Key Steps to Winterize Your Home

Winterizing your home properly can ensure that your interior temperature stays comfortable during the cold winter months while maximizing energy efficiency. The most common causes of energy loss during the winter are air leaks and insufficient insulation. Here are a few key steps that we recommend to winterize your home.

Inspect Your Roof

Look for damaged, loose, or missing shingles that may cause leaks as well as shingles that are curling, lifting or buckling. Make note of any worn-out seals around vent pipes and chimneys as well. You may want to consider having your roof inspected by a professional.

Clean Out Your Gutters & Fix Downspouts

Now that the temperature has started to drop, you want to make sure to clean out your gutters and downspouts. Now is the time to pull out any sticks or other debris blocking them to allow water to run freely from your roof to your gutters and away from your home.

Seal Any Air Leaks

If there are cracks, joints, leaky ducts, or other openings in your home that allow warm air to leak out and cold air to seep in, your heating system will be forced to work overtime.

Improve Your Home’s Insulation

Heat can escape easily through a poorly insulated attic as it rises to the upper levels of your home. By upgrading your attic insulation, you can keep your space comfortable and warm. In addition, you need to make sure your attic is well ventilated to prevent ice dams. Proper ventilation will keep the underside of your roof closer to the outside temperature to prevent snow on the roof from melting and freezing at the eaves.