You’ve moved into your new home right in the midst of winter weather settling in. You and your family are ready to settle back on the couch with warm blankets and hot mugs of cocoa to stay warm as the snow falls outside. Yet before you get too comfortable, there are several tasks you need to do so you stay warm and safe inside your new home throughout the winter without experiencing any problems. Check out the following advice so you have an easier time maintaining your home during those cold winter storms.
Calibrate the Thermostat
You keep turning down the thermostat because you don’t want to spend so much on your energy bills with the furnace constantly running. The spouse keeps turning it up because they are cold. Yet the real problem may be the thermostat itself. The furnace could be running too long because the thermostat’s calibration is off, causing your energy bill to rise. It could also make the house too hot or too cold as you are constantly adjusting the temperature. Get a HVAC professional to check the calibration and ensure the furnace is running efficiently.
Clean the Furnace Vents
Your new home could have sat empty for a long period of time before you purchased it. So dust, dirt and debris could have accumulated inside the vents and return air ducts. This debris and dust negatively impacts the air quality in your home. Also, your furnace works harder as it tries to push air through clogged ducts, making it run longer. Have the ducts cleared out before the winter weather sets in.
Insulate the House
You want the warm air to stay where it belongs: inside your home. Insulating basements, attics and crawl spaces can keep the cold air outside as you will feel a noticeable difference to the air temperature. There are also added benefits to insulating your home. Prevent water pipes from freezing and bursting by protecting them with insulation. You can also prevent ice dams from forming on the roof and gutters that can force water into your home.
Check Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
New homeowners will be using their furnaces and fireplaces more often during the winter. Unfortunately, fires and carbon monoxide buildup can happen to create a dangerous situation in your home. Keep you and your family safe by checking all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure the machines are in working order.
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous, odorless gas that can be created from your fireplace, vented space heaters and furnace. Getting equipment inspected, preventing backdrafts in chimneys and furnace exhaust pipes, and venting space heaters can ensure there is no buildup of this gas inside your home.
Service the Water Heater
Everybody remembers to have the furnace and central air unit serviced before winter arrives. Yet few people think about their hot water heater until a problem happens. Sediment accumulates at the bottom of the tank, affecting the amount of water in the tank that can be heated and wearing out the water heater. Flushing out the water heater can reduce the sediment in the tank, making the system more efficient. You also have the chance to check the pressure release valve so it is in working order.
Keep your new home warm and safe. Have your furnace and other HVAC systems inspected before the cold air arrives. Make sure all safety devices are in working order and insulate the home to keep the warmth inside. You will have an easier time maintaining the house in the winter when taking these steps and will come to love the house for many years to come.
