Tighten Up - Getting Ready For Winter
It seems like summer was here just a second ago! There’s probably even some sun in our future, but as the days get shorter, and the nights get colder, it’s time to start thinking about getting your home ready for the Pacific Northwest wet winter months. Keeping your home water and cold tight in winter can keep your bills down, not to mention avoiding potential disasters.
Here’s a quick list to help you batten down the hatches while there’s plenty of time, both inside and out!
Winter Weatherizing Outside
Clean you gutters. It’s important to do this at least a few times to keep leaves and debris out
Check your chimney. If it isn’t properly sealed and capped, or if your damper is warped it can be a major heat loss.
Winterize your water lines. Turn off exterior water spigots, disconnect garden hoses and turn off and drain sprinkler systems.
Check the weather stripping on doors and windows to keep warm air inside.
Winter Weatherizing Inside
Reverse ceiling fans. That little mystery switch on the fan? Changes the direction to clockwise. Switching them to push the warm that pools at the ceiling to circulate down into living spaces can reduce heating bills up to 10%!
Change out your filters! This will not just make your furnace run more efficiently but will keep more of the bacteria, mold spores and dust out of the air you breath. Consider switching to a permanent electrostatic filter, which traps way more of those pesky particles.
Insulate your windows. Add heavy drapes in the winter, or a more cost effective shrink to fit plastic film to aid in efficiency.
Install a programmable thermostat to keep from heating an empty house.
Flush your water heater. It doesn’t need to be done often, but it’s a good idea to do before it gets too cold. No one wants a cold shower in the middle of winter.
Find more fun tips HERE
Need help with the costs or know someone who does? Multnomah County might be able to help, HERE