The uncertain weather that's occurring in all seasons and in all climates calls for more weather preparedness than ever. In our climate, winter can be cold, with occasional subfreezing temperatures and storms, so it's always best to be ready. Furthermore, we want to make sure we are as prepared as we can be for the kind of catastrophic cold weather that paralyzed us early in the year with the polar vortex. According to weather predictors, we may be in for more of these events, so it should be standard operating procedure to winterize your home every fall. Here are some steps you can take to do just that.
Get your rain gutters ready. Make sure rain gutters are free of leaves and debris, even if they are covered. Also, make sure the segments are connected and there are no leaks so rainwater can flow through.
Air seal your home. Go around your home with a lit incense stick. Hold it in front of baseboards, around door and window frames, under recessed lighting, in front of electrical outlets, and in front of any hole in an exterior wall that accommodates a cable, wires, or pipes. If the smoke wavers, you have an air leak and you're losing warm air — or conditioned air may be intruding. Plug the holes with caulk, weatherstripping, or insulation to help winterize your home.
Install a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat. These thermostats are a better way to program the temperature in your home so you can save on energy. Set the thermostat a little lower during winter when you're sleeping or away from home during the day. Set it to rise again during the hours when you're up and moving around in the morning or when you come home from work.
Bring container plants indoors. Start getting your container plants acclimated to the indoors before the temperature drops to freezing. If the container is lightweight enough that you can move it, bring it in at night and then put it back outside in the morning for a couple of weeks. Then move the plants inside permanently as a final step as you winterize your home.
For more on how to winterize your home, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.