Thanksgiving is upon us, which means winter isn’t far behind. There are some necessary steps you need to take to protect your home from winter temperatures and precipitation before they arrive.
Here’s Texas 811‘s checklist to help you and your home gear up for winter weather:
- Double-check your windows and door panels to ensure the seals are secure. You’ll want to be sure you’re keeping the heat in and the cold out during the coldest months.
- If you have screen doors, you should replace them with storm doors. Same goes for your window screens—consider replacing them with storm windows.
- Check for any rotten wood that may be present and replace or repair the damage.
- Inspect all of your windows for holes or cracks. You will want to repair or replace these as soon as you are able before any major storms come through.
- For maximum indoor air quality during the chilly months, clean or replace your air filter in your furnace.
- You can also remove any air conditioning units you have in your windows, or you can choose to cover them with insulated liners to prevent drafts.
- Bleed valves on any hot-water radiators to increase heating efficiency by releasing air that may be trapped inside.
- If your current fan system allows it, switch the direction of your ceiling fans so that they push warm air downward.
- Flush your hot water heater tank and check the pressure valve.
- Double-check that all of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have full batteries and work properly.
- Clean out your gutter system to ensure water will be able to flow through it properly.
Have a warm, safe winter season!
