How to Prepare Your Home for Winter
As winter approaches, you might be thinking about the best way to prepare your home for the cold weather. Whether you're new to living in a northern climate or simply want to lower your energy bills, improve energy efficiency, and protect your home from potential damage, it's important to take some steps to get your home ready for the winter months. Keep reading to discover some useful tips for preparing your home for the upcoming harsh winter weather.
Tips to Prepare Your Home for Winter
Inspect Your Chimney and Roof: It is important to make sure your chimney is free of debris or build-up before use. You can choose to hire professionals for the inspection, or (safely) check yourself. When inspecting your roof, it is important to look for damaged or missing shingles that may cause leaking from rain, snow, or ice buildup.
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Reverse Your Ceiling Fans: Did you know that you can reverse the direction of your ceiling fans? By doing so, the fan will help distribute the warm air trapped in that rises toward the ceiling throughout the rest of the room. Some fans have a switch on the back to reverse their direction, but if yours doesn’t, you can manually adjust the blade’s pitch to the left.
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Clean Your Gutters: Make sure to thoroughly clean out your gutters by removing any debris or leaves that may have accumulated. This will help prevent clogs and potential water damage to your property.
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Insulate Your Pipes and Attic: This will keep warm air inside your home and keep cold air out, to help reduce your energy bills. To insulate your pipes, you can wrap foam around them, use heat-controlled tapes, or wrap with thick t-shirts/towels. For your attic, you can use spray foam, glass wool, or cellulose insulation.
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Seal Your Windows and Doors: Sealing your windows and doors prevents cold air from infiltrating your home, making it easier to safeguard against moisture and air leaks. Though there are many products you can use, it is recommended you use a sealant that can be extruded in low temperatures and remains flexible so there is no shrinkage.
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Our Sealant Recommendation
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Titebond® WeatherMaster™ Sealant is designed to be extruded in low temperatures and remains permanently flexible without any shrinkage. It adheres effectively to damp surfaces and offers a weatherproof seal to protect against various elements. It is ideal for sealing windows, doors, shutters, exterior trim, siding, gutters and vents. Also, it comes in 200+ colors with color matching to common siding manufacturers.
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