Preparing for the colder season is about more than making sure you have a new shovel or rock salt for walkways. Learn how to winterize your house and make it a tradition to keep your home protected from the elements while saving you money in the long term.
It’s important not to leave winter-proofing your house until the last minute. Winterizing a home can ensure you’re not left unprepared for the frigid temperature drops and snowy weather that often come out of nowhere. Forge & Flame is here to give you some easy tips for winterizing your home that will keep you warm and protected.
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Why Winterizing Your House Matters
There are many benefits to starting a winterized home tradition each year. Not only does it help protect your home from the cold and wet elements that each winter brings, but winterizing a house also provides increased energy efficiency, reduced heating costs and an extended lifespan for your home.
Every home, including those expected to be vacant for the winter, must undergo this important process. When a home isn’t prepared for the colder months, it can lead to damage to the home’s pipes, HVAC systems and more. This type of damage and risk can lead to costly and time-consuming repairs.
When to Start Home Winterization
The winterizing home process takes time and you want to be sure there is a cushion to fix any issues before it's too late. However, when you start winterizing will depend on how many tasks you have to complete. It's generally a good idea to start in the early fall – or even sooner if you’ll be gone for long months toward the beginning of the season.
If you’re planning to DIY your projects, make sure you give yourself ample time to complete all the tasks on your list. On the other hand, if you’re hiring a professional for any task, schedule your appointments as soon as possible to get the work done before the cold weather sets in – and before everyone else starts the process as well.
Make sure your stove is ready for burn season with helpful maintenance tips and tricks from the experts at Forge & Flame.
8 Steps to Winterize A House
Various steps of home winterization depend on where you live, how old your home is and multiple other factors. Here are a few ideas for where to start to winterize your home:
Conduct a Home Energy Audit
First and foremost, a home energy audit can help you determine what improvements need to be done before the cold sets in. Many utility companies coordinate audits for a small fee. There are also private companies that provide the service. This audit typically includes checking insulation, appliances, windows and doors, lighting and other utilities.
The audit will reveal the largest sources of energy loss in your home and make recommendations for improvements that can greatly boost your home’s efficiency. This way, you can start making a list of what steps you need to take to truly protect your home throughout the winter months.
Seal Windows and Doors
Doors and windows tend to be the biggest culprits for heat loss. If you have any old or otherwise compromised windows, consider replacing them before the cold breeze blows through. Winterizing your windows and doors will make your home cozier thanks to effective zone heating and save you money on your utility bills.
Some quick and cost effective options are to buy window insulator kits or door draft blockers. A more extensive solution is to caulk around the outside of your windows and replace cracked and loose weatherstripping before the season starts. Remove the trim around the windows from the inside to check if any gaps require filling with expanding spray foam insulation. Properly sealing these areas will ensure that you reduce any potential drafts and lower your heating costs.
Check Insulation in Key Areas of Your Home
Having enough insulation is imperative to know how to winterize a house. Do you have enough insulation in your attic to act as a built-in buffer between your living space and the freezing weather? Energy.gov recommends if your attic insulation “is less than R-30 (11 inches of fiberglass or rock wool, or 8 inches of cellulose), you could probably benefit by adding more.”
If it’s less than R-30, you could be losing precious heat from your living space into the attic. That’s also a recipe for ice dams, which can lead to roof damage. This is why it’s important to conduct a home energy audit and check the attic to amp up the amount of insulation if needed.
Maintain Your Heating System
You may not feel quite ready for winter, but are your heat sources? A furnace tune-up may be in order, along with changing the filter. If you haven’t removed last season’s ashes from your stove or insert, this is the time to do it, along with checking the firebox and venting for any required maintenance. You can even schedule a professional inspection and cleaning before the colder season sets in.
Between mid-summer and the beginning of November is prime time to replenish your fuel supply of wood or pellets. And remember, should you lose your power in the winter, your Forge & Flame stove is a great backup heat source that works even when your home is without electricity.
The right heating solution can reduce your heating bill and keep you protected all year long.
Opt For Advanced Heating Solutions
If you're realizing that your current heating options aren’t as effective as you hoped, it’s a good idea to upgrade to more effective solutions. This can include installing:
- Electric stoves
- Pellet stoves
- Wood-burning stoves
- Fireplace inserts
- More efficient and effective HVAC systems
Our products at Forge & Flame offer reliable, cost-effective heating throughout the year. Depending on what stove you opt for, you may even qualify for tax credits that alleviate costs even further. Advanced heating solutions are a great way to aesthetically and economically heat your home for the colder months.
Check and Prepare the Roof and Gutters
Before the cold arrives, remember to clean your gutters and downspouts to further prevent ice dams in freezing temperatures. Then, while you’re in the attic, inspect the roof for leaks. If you find any, repair them before they have a chance to cause more significant damage this winter. If roofing projects fall outside the do-it-yourself category, hire a licensed and bonded roofing company.
You can also help protect your roof and prevent ice dams this winter by installing de-icing cables on the bottom 36 inches of your roof. Home improvement stores sell de-icing cable kits that can be installed relatively easily. It might even be a good project to combine with the hanging of the holiday lights.
Prepare Plumbing for Cold Weather
Another very important step for how to winterize a house is to prepare your plumbing and pipes. One way to do this is to insulate your pipes with store-bought foam tubing that will work to protect your pipes from bursting or freezing. You can also have a few faucets slowly drip overnight to help alleviate any potential pressure from the ice freezing.
If you are planning on leaving for an extended period of time in the winter, be sure to turn off your water supply and drain the pipes of excess water. This will help prevent any problems or risks while you’re away for the cold season.
In case your pipes do freeze or burst, make sure you know how to shut off your water supply before calling a professional to help rectify the problem.
Final Preparations and Checks
Lastly, it’s important to do a final check of everything you’ve done to ensure your house is winterized as effectively and efficiently as possible. This way, you can prepare your home and hopefully not have to worry about anything during those harsh months. Beyond what we’ve listed above, make sure you:
- Test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms
- Review your emergency supplies, especially if you live in a more remote area
- Thoroughly check and clean your chimney
- Stock up on winter supplies like snow shovels, ice scrapers, sidewalk salt and blankets
Warm Your Winter With Forge & Flame Stoves
If you start some of these winterizing projects now or in the near future, you will be a whole lot more comfortable in a few months. That way, you can simply relax and enjoy the warmth of a Forge & Flame stove while playing games with the family or reading a book.
If a new heating solution is a priority for winterizing, our team is here to help. We’re passionate about being able to enjoy the benefits of a fire without a fuss, and we’re committed to responsible heating practices. Our vast line of wood-burning stoves, pellet stoves, gas stoves and electric stoves are the perfect addition for any space ready for added ambiance and warmth. Reach out to us today to learn more about our stoves and how they can benefit your home.
