CULLMAN – Fall is a wonderful time of year in Alabama. Temperatures are at their mildest, and it is the perfect time to get some much needed work done to your home. It is also the perfect time to get things squared away for the upcoming winter months. Below are a few tips for winterizing your home to make it more efficient and save you money.
- One of the simplest tasks you can do for any home is to check for any points of draft. Check around door frames and windows for any signs of air leaking. Even a small leak can cost you a lot of money over the winter. The good news is that if you find a leak, chances are that fixing it will be a cinch. Weather stripping for doors, and caulk for windows are both inexpensive ways to fix your leak. Make sure to check the weather stripping periodically for signs of wear and replace when necessary.
- Keep hearth at your home warm and safe this winter by checking to make sure that you do not have a corrosion called creosote, which is a byproduct of burning wood. This is an extremely important practice to keep because a buildup of creosote in your flue or chimney can mean a disastrous fire later. Hiring a professional chimney sweep once a year to do a proper inspection could mean more than a few bucks down the road.
- An interesting fact that many people do not know is that a central humidifier in your home is good for more than your sinuses. Dry air in the winter can cause fine wood in your home to crack, and therefore increase your chances of problems down the line. Making sure your humidifier is clean will not only keep your family happy, but keep your home from incurring damage.
- Winter is also known to be a more dangerous time for house fires. With the use of space heaters, electric blankets, more cooking in the home and drier air, it is the perfect set up for fire. This is why it is important to clear out any extra clutter in your home. Old magazines, newspapers, and other flammable materials should be thrown out. In addition, checking the batteries in your fire alarms, and making sure that you have a working fire extinguisher close by are also easy ways to protect your home.
- The last stop on our list is the probably one of the more dreaded chores of the year, cleaning out gutters. While this is a tedious chore it is an extremely necessary one. Doing a quick check around your gutters, and covering them with a mesh guard can keep the mountain of fall leaves from clogging them. After all, gutters keep your foundation protected from thousands of gallons of water annually, so being kind to them means being kind to your wallet and home.
Fall really is the opportune time to get your home in order. Winter weather can be brutal on any home and cost you thousands in the long run. So in between football games this month, check around the homestead for problem areas to save yourself a huge headache later.
