WINTER IS NOW HERE: HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR THIS COLD SEASON Winter is now upon us and you know what that means - creating a Winter To-Do list. Will you make snowmen, go skiing, perhaps snowboarding? Whatever fun events you may have planned, make sure to also include a few home maintenance tasks. The following may help you save costs this winter and keep the warmth in!
PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT While it’s great to have the house heated to your perfect temperature while you’re at home, it’s really not that necessary to keep your home that warm while your family is at work and school. Having a programmable thermostat can reduce costs by setting scheduled temperature changes.
WINTERIZE YOUR WINDOWS Many windows tend to let heat seep out, but there’s two ways to directly combat this: Temporary storm windows, or an insulator kit. The insulator kit will provide films to cover your windows and is a less expensive alternative to storm windows. Both are great options for insulating your windows.
INSULATE, INSULATE, INSULATE Having the proper insulation can make a huge difference in keeping the cold out, and the warmth in! However, some older homes may lack proper insulation. By scheduling a consultation, you may be able to bulk up your home’s insulation.
COVER THE WINDOWS Applying new windows or films to windows can be intimidating, but you can also combat heat leaks by getting insulating curtains! Not only can these curtains help prevent heat leaks, but they can also be stylish while adding warmth to the room.
INSTALL A DOOR SWEEP Have you noticed that some doors leave a small gap between the bottom of the door and the floor? This actually prevents floors from being scratched, however if the gap is sizeable enough it can lead to heat loss. You can fix this by installing door sweeps! These sweeps won’t harm your floors and will close any gaps to keep the heat in.
SKILLFUL SQUEEGEE Window Cleaning
Beautify your windows with personable and experienced service. windows • chandeliers • exterior lights • ceiling fans • mirrors
REVERSE CEILING FANS Did you know that the direction your ceiling fans are turning actually effects how heat travels in your home? If you can change your ceiling fan direction, make sure they’re spinning clockwise, as this will push the warm air lower. CLEAN THE GUTTERS & DRAIN OUTDOOR PLUMBING Build up in your gutters can lead to still water, which has a high chance of freezing. This also applies to any outdoor plumbing you may have like hoses or sprinkler systems. Try to make sure that there’s no water in either of these systems during the colder months because they might freeze over. SWEEP OUT THE CHIMNEY One of the best parts of winter is sitting in front of a cozy fire, but you have to make sure you do it safely! If you burn log fires at a lower temperature, tar can actually start to build up in your chimney. Make sure before the winter season you get your chimney cleaned by a chimney sweep service to avoid any unwanted fires.
Serving West Cobb • Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured
Matthew Mindeman • Call or text 770-427-6553
Deborah Ratchford Top Producing Agent Keller Williams Realty Cityside Mobile 678-570-4779 Office 770-874-6200 Debratchford@kw.com
