Easy Ways on How to Protect Your House during the Winter

Your Georgia home is prone to damage when the temperature drops to freezing level. Turning your heating system up a notch can prevent costly repairs, but doing so may cost a lot on your electric bill. But how do you prevent further expenses and save your house from any damage?

Seal Insulation Gaps

Make sure that you seal all the places where air penetrates on the walls. Any air leak causes fluctuations on your home’s temperature. You can reduce any interference with your house’s temperature by using caulk to seal the area. You may want to check out the air vents, outside faucets and even the plumbing for any gaps for air passage. Make sure that any air leaks in your walls are sealed and the air is circulating properly within the house.

Once you’ve checked your house interiors, check out your house’s foundation and see if there are any cracks in between. One big hint that there’s a crack is if you see any light passing through the gap.

Check Your Heating System

Check your heating system for the winter comes. This will help prevent any issues happening in the future. You may try to get a licensed contractor from cities like Savannah to check your furnace or boiler to make sure that everything is fine. Make sure that the furnace filter on forced hot air systems are clean and are in good condition. Have a licensed contractor check your chimney and remove any creosote buildup from woodstoves and fireplaces.

Fill your fuel tanks and keep an eye on its level as soon as the winter comes in. The heat should be no lower than 55 degrees because the temperature inside the walls is much colder than the living spaces. Ensure that unoccupied rooms are open to even the temperature throughout the house. Make certain that you follow the manufacturer’s instruction in maintaining your wood- burning or pellet stoves to prevent any damage.

Upgrade Insulation and Weather Stripping

Make sure to add some extra insulation in the attic to prevent any ice dam formation. This usually happens when too much heat escapes into the attic. It melts the ice and snow on the roof and can cause an ice dam once it freezes.

Licensed contractors from Georgia often advise their customers to add weather stripping around doors and caulk windows to make sure that heat will be retained on your house’s interiors. You must also remove screens from windows and have it replaced with storm windows if needed.

Do Some Winter Safety Measures

Trim trees around your house and remove any dead branches to prevent any accidents. Keep gutters clean from any debris so water can drain properly. Check if downspouts are installed properly to make sure that water is directed away from the foundation.