With winter weather already here in Illinois, it’s important for all residents to know how to prepare their homes for the season.
Here are some tips to help you prepare your home for the winter:
- Protect indoor pipes. Pay special attention to basements, where over one-third of all burst pipes occur.
- Insulate the attic or crawl space.
- Service the furnace and chimney, and annual inspections should be standard practice.
- Remove and store all window screens. Install glass storm windows, creating an insulating layer of air between the window and cold weather.
- Repair loose roofing shingles. Snow is heavy, and it can cause shingles to lift and let water leak into the home.
- Clean and inspect gutters.
- Secure outdoor water sources, including draining any garden hoses before the first frost. Remove the hose from the spigot.
- Re-caulk windows and doors, sealing any gaps.
- Reverse ceiling fans, which helps circulate warm air.
- Drain fuel from gas powered engines, such as a lawn mower.
- Check on insurance coverage to avoid any unwanted surprises.
- Prevent door locks from freezing in super-cold climates by spraying a powered-graphite lubricant in each lock.
- Check on snowblower to make sure it is working properly.
- Cover the water heater with an insulation blanket.
- Change batteries and test smoke detectors.