Home Winterization Tips
If you are getting prepared for the winter there are many things that you need to do to get your vehicle and your home ready. Winter can be fierce and if you are not prepared then it could cost you a lot of money or cause you to have a serious inconvenience.
Many people don’t know that they need to winterize their vehicle. When you winterize your vehicle, you take it in and flush out all of the coolant. The coolant is for the air conditioning system to keep the vehicle cold. You only need this in the summer because you won’t be running your air conditioner during the winter months when the temperatures are below zero. When you get your vehicle winterized, the technicians will put anti-freeze in it. This works to keep the car from freezing in freezing temperatures. You have to use anti-freeze or your engine will take a beating and it could cost you hundreds of dollars.
Winter also means that you have to do quite a bit for the home to get ready too. If your home is setup on a propane heating system then you will have to be sure your propane tank is full and ready to go. Many people run their propane down to a very low level and you don’t want to be without heat. A propane tank can cost up to $600 to fill, so be sure you have enough money to fill it.
Heating your home in the winter may mean hanging blankets in hallways to secure the warmth to certain rooms if there are places the warm air can escape. Be sure you have plenty of space heaters if your heating system is too expensive. It is also good to have an alternative heating system for your home because if you lose power due to a bad snow storm, you don’t want to freeze. Plenty of blankets are nice but a fireplace is even better. You can install a wood stove in a home for as little as $500.
Winterizing your home also means you need to change out the windows. Be sure that your windows are sealed properly so there is no cold air coming into the home. The more secure the windows are, the lower your heating bill will be because the heater will not have to work so hard to meet the set temperature. If your windows are thin and you do not have winter windows then you might think about putting plastic over the windows. This can help lock out the freezing temperatures. It will not lock the cold air out entirely, but plastic will sure help. You can buy an entire roll of plastic at your local hardware store for as little as $10. All you need is a staple gun to secure the plastic around the exterior of the home.
If you rely on a pellet stove or a fireplace for your heating system then you also need to be sure that you have not acquired any visitors that have taken up residence in the chimney. It is common for birds to make a nest or even for squirrels and raccoons to make their way inside of them. Always inspect and be sure that your chimney is free and clear of debris before you get started. Be sure to stock up early on pellets or begin cutting wood early so you are fully prepared. The last thing you want to happen is to get caught off guard because winter came early and you haven’t any firewood or pellets for the pellet stove.
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