Winter is Coming… Is Your Home Prepared?
With temperatures typically dropping below freezing in November in Kitsap County, winter is quickly approaching. There are several ways you can prepare your home for cold weather to help cut costs and prevent damage caused by freezing temperatures. Kelli Holt, a Kitsap Credit Union employee for the past 37 years and a member of our Facilities Team, shares her expert advice on the best ways to winterize your home.
Q: What does it mean to "winterize" my home?
A: Winterizing your home means preparing your home for winter weather. This season in the Pacific Northwest, you can usually expect colder temperatures and high winds, which can lead to frozen pipes, power outages and clogged gutters. Preparing your home for winter is extra important if you are a snowbird, and your home will be vacant during these months.
Q: What tips do you have for winterizing my home?
A: There are many ways you can winterize your home. A few things you can do to prepare your home for colder temperatures include:
Q: Why is it important to do these things each winter?
A: Keeping your home in great shape and protecting it from preventable damage and disaster is the best way to enjoy your winter. We all know you can’t keep Mother Nature from having her way, but taking steps like these to prepare your home for the challenges brought on by cold weather will set you up for a more worry-free winter.
Q: Will following these tips help me cut costs?
A: Yes, things like caulking will help reduce your heating bill by reducing the amount of warm air escaping though the drafts. Making sure your pipes don’t freeze can save you thousands of dollars in plumbing costs. Checking your chimney could save your entire home from disaster.
Q: Are there any other ways I can cut costs?
A: Yes! When you are home and awake, set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting. This could save you as much as 10% on your heating bill. Heat rises, so reversing the direction of your ceiling fans can help pull the heat back down to your level, so you can best enjoy that warmth.
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
A: I hope these tips will help guide you to a warm, safe, and enjoyable winter, allowing you to focus on spending quality time with family and friends while avoiding emergency home repairs.
Q: What does it mean to "winterize" my home?
A: Winterizing your home means preparing your home for winter weather. This season in the Pacific Northwest, you can usually expect colder temperatures and high winds, which can lead to frozen pipes, power outages and clogged gutters. Preparing your home for winter is extra important if you are a snowbird, and your home will be vacant during these months.
Q: What tips do you have for winterizing my home?
A: There are many ways you can winterize your home. A few things you can do to prepare your home for colder temperatures include:
- Clean your gutters: Remove debris to ensure rainwater has a clear path to exit. Clogged gutters can lead to costly water damage from backup or overflow onto your home.
- Disconnect your hoses and insulate faucets (hose bibs): This will help protect your pipes from freezing.
- Check for drafts around windows and doors: Seal any gaps with caulk to prevent cold air from entering and warm air from escaping.
- Have your chimney inspected: If you have a wood-burning fireplace or stove, check for creosote buildup to prevent the risk of a fire.
- Inspect your heating system: Have it checked by a licensed professional each year to avoid system failure. If you’re snowbirding, set your thermostat to at least 65°F or use your system’s auto program. Also, be sure to replace your furnace filters every three months. Inspect your attic and basement insulation: Ensure no critters have disturbed the insulation. As temperatures drop, animals seek out warmer places to stay.
- Stock up on ice melt: Keep some on hand to prevent slips and falls around your home’s entryways.
- Prepare an emergency kit: Include a working handheld or headlamp flashlight. While most cell phones have a flashlight, remember that using it will drain your battery faster, and you’ll need your phone charged for emergencies.
- Check the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Q: Why is it important to do these things each winter?
A: Keeping your home in great shape and protecting it from preventable damage and disaster is the best way to enjoy your winter. We all know you can’t keep Mother Nature from having her way, but taking steps like these to prepare your home for the challenges brought on by cold weather will set you up for a more worry-free winter.
Q: Will following these tips help me cut costs?
A: Yes, things like caulking will help reduce your heating bill by reducing the amount of warm air escaping though the drafts. Making sure your pipes don’t freeze can save you thousands of dollars in plumbing costs. Checking your chimney could save your entire home from disaster.
Q: Are there any other ways I can cut costs?
A: Yes! When you are home and awake, set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting. This could save you as much as 10% on your heating bill. Heat rises, so reversing the direction of your ceiling fans can help pull the heat back down to your level, so you can best enjoy that warmth.
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
A: I hope these tips will help guide you to a warm, safe, and enjoyable winter, allowing you to focus on spending quality time with family and friends while avoiding emergency home repairs.
November 12, 2024