Baby it’s cold outside in Kansas City this winter season. I mentioned in a previous blog ways to prepare your home for winter. Hopefully these tips will help keep you warm with the temperatures dropping.
Windows and Doors
  • Check for gaps – Walk around the outside of your home and check all plumbing pipes and vents. If there are any gaps, apply foam sealant to these areas. Close all exterior vents.
  • Seal doors and windows – This will help lower heating bills. Caulk around the windows and add weather stripping if needed. Check the door and attic access door to see if they need weather stripping as well.
  • Cover windows – Place a insulation window kit on windows to build a barrier from the cool air. A more permanent solution would to replace old windows with storm windows.
  • Curtains – Close window blinds and curtains at night to help insulate the windows from the dropping temperatures. Keeping them open during the daylight will help warm the home with the natural heat from the sun.
Heating Systems
  • Heating system and ducts – It’s the time of the year to clean your duct work out. It can be done professionally or you can simple vacuum them out yourself. Also have your furnace professionally serviced and replace the filters. Your heating system will work more economically and save you money in the long run.
  • Fireplace or wood stove – If you have a fireplace or wood stove, it is important to make sure the chimney is clean. Call a professional to check your flue on the fireplace to make sure it doesn’t have any leaks.
  • Reverse the ceiling fan – Most ceiling fans have reverse switches, switch it so the fan turns clockwise. Warm air rises to the ceiling, when you have your fan spinning clockwise it will create an updraft that pushes warm air around the room without creating a wind chill.
Insulation
  • Insulate Pipes – Covering exposed pipes in areas like the basement and attic. At this time you need to remember to disconnect outside garden hoses and shut off outside faucet valves.
  • Insulate outlet and light switches – This will help reduce energy loss. In older homes you would be surprised the amount of energy lost in these areas.
Additional Heat Source
If you are still feeling a bit cold and choose to use a space heater for extra warmth. Please use these precautions:
  • Place the space heater on a level hard surface. Keep anything flammable, such as; clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs at least three feet away from the space heater. Never leave children unattended in a room with the space heater. Make sure you turn off the space heater off when you go to bed.
  • If you are using a fireplace or wood stove, please take these precautions as well. You will want a glass or screen fireplace cover to protect against sparks and rolling logs. Again, you will want to make sure all the fire embers in the fireplace are out before going to bed. It is also important to remember to no use the cooking stove for warming up your home. This is a safety hazard for children and animals.
  • Frozen pipes can be a problem this time of year. If you have this problem, you can leave the doors under the sinks open. Remember to always place household chemicals out of reach of children. You can possibly store them in the garage temporarily. You will also want to leave the water faucets dripping before going to bed at night. These tips can save your pipes from bursting or cracking.
  • In case of power outages, remember to use generators out side the home.
  • In the basement and connecting garage can cause lethal gases in the home. Always check your generator to make sure it is working up to par, you don’t want to find out during a power outage your generator isn’t working
Finally, review your home owner insurance on a regular basis. Keep important documents in a fire proof place. Hopefully, you will never have to have to use your home owner insurance. These tips are to help prevent any home owner accidents. CH Construction wants to help our readers stay safe and let you know we are available for consultation on your home owner needs.