Home Winterization Guide 2017

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WINTERIZATION Guide 2017

NOVEMBER 2017

1

Inside

Prepare Your Home for Severe Winter Weather

2

Spot Home Damage Before It’s Too Late

3

‘Tis the Season for Home Safety

4

New Year, New-to-You Home

4

Improve Indoor Air Quality in Advance of Winter

5

Keep on Going Green This Winter

6

HBA Home Maintenance Quiz

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3 Pre-Winter Lawn Car Pointers

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The Home Winterization Guide is a special advertising publication of The Billings Gazette.

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Sunday, November 5, 2017

PREPARE YOUR HOME for Severe Winter Weather

By KIMBERLY WELZENBACH  To help prevent pipes from freezing, CEO, Home Builders Association of Billings insulate them with foam wrap or newspaper and turn on your faucets so they drip a While not all parts of Montana experi- tiny bit. ence snow and ice storms and severe cold  Make sure all your fuel-burning during the winter months, many do, and equipment is vented to the outside, and the it is important to be prepared for winter vent openings are clear of debris and snow. weather before it strikes.  Learn how to shut off your main waThe National Weather Service calls ter valve in case your pipes do freeze and winter storms “Deceptive Killers” because burst. people don’t often die as a direct result of  Hire a contractor to check the structhe weather, but due to hypothermia from tural ability of your roof to sustain the prolonged exposure to cold or in traffic ac- weight of accumulated snow or water (in cidents caused by hazardous driving con- case the drains don’t work on flat roofs). ditions. Winter weather can also knock out During the winter, many people turn to heat, power and communications services alternate heating and power sources. There to your home, sometimes for days at a time. is an increased risk of electric shock, house Here are some tips from the Department fire or carbon monoxide poisoning if the of Homeland Services’ Federal Emergency necessary safety precautions are not taken: Management Agency (FEMA) to help you  Keep fire extinguishers around the keep your home and family safe and com- home, and make sure all family members fortable during the cold winter months and know how to use them. extreme winter weather.  Never use a generator, grill, camp  Extend the life of your fuel supply by stove or other gasoline, propane, natuwinterizing your home. Insulate walls and ral gas or charcoal burning device inside attics, caulk and weather-strip doors and your home, garage, basement, crawl space windows, and install storm windows. An or any partially enclosed area. Don’t place economical alternative to storm windows the unit near a door, window or vent where is to cover them with plastic on the inside. carbon monoxide could come indoors.  Clear rain gutters so that they don’t To learn more about routine maintefill with water, then freeze and tear away nance, energy efficiency, safety and more from your roof due to the added weight. tips to protect and properly care for your Repair roof leaks and cut away tree branch- home, go to HBABillings.net and make es that could fall on your home during a sure to visit the 2018 Building & Remodelstorm. ing Expo January 20 & 21 at MetraPark. For  Have your heating equipment and event information visit BillingsBuildingchimney cleaned and inspected every year. Expo.com.

Home Winterization Guide

Damage SPOT HOME

2018

Before It’s Too Late

By KIMBERLY WELZENBACH CEO, Home Builders Association of Billings

H

ome owners are well advised to conduct regular checks around their homes. By keeping their eyes peeled, they have a better chance at preventing a small leak from becoming major water damage, an improperly sealed window from turning into a significant mold issue, and so on.

Here are some general tips for keeping your home in good shape and minimizing repairs as much as possible over time.

Home Builders Association of Billings, Inc.

January January 20 & 21

Roof Starting at the top, the roof is a critical part of your home, and one you may not look at very often. Check your roof for curling, cracked or missing shingles and for signs of overall wear. It is well worth the investment to make small repairs as needed to avoid Make sure large appliances, such as most costly damage down the road. refrigerators, are routinely cleaned.

Water The main reason for ensuring your roof is in good shape is to avoid water leaks into your home. A light brown or sunken spot in your ceilings can be a telltale sign. As can a musty, moldy smell. Ceilings, walls and floors with water damage can be soft or spongy to the touch. And you may even hear dripping if plumbing is the source of your leak.

Appliances You may not realize that a refrigerator can cause you more grief than warm food, but if the appliance springs a leak, it often goes unnoticed while it wreaks havoc in your home. Check to make sure all of your large appliances are in good working order, and properly maintain them with routine cleaning and filter replacement.

Insects and Rodents The appearance of ants and insects as well as rodents is always unwelcome. But it can also mean damage to your home, especially from termites and burrowing rodents.

Regularly do a deep clean of your floors and carpets, and check outdoors for any openings into your exterior brick, walls and roof.

Call a professional if you suspect you have a pest problem.

Home Winterization Guide

Foundation Foundation issues could be the result of poor drainage around your home, intense dry and moist seasons over time, or just plain faulty home construction. While there are not a lot of quick fixes, noticing it sooner rather than later is still beneficial. A telling foundation issue is a cracking or separation in the bricks on which your home rests and in your basement. A lesser-known sign of damage is when door and window frames become out of alignment. Your basement door no longer closes and you notice a crack forming in a basement window? It might mean your foundation is shifting, and that’s never good news.

While these are just a few tips and not a comprehensive checklist, think of it as a friendly reminder you to keep your eyes peeled for potential home repair needs that shouldn’t wait. Remember that contractors, remodelers and inspection professionals have the expertise to help you address critical home issues that rear their ugly head.

Contact the Home Builders Association of Billings to find the most trusted professionals to help you with your home repair and remodeling needs. HBABillings.net or by phone at 406-252-7533. Make sure to visit the 2018 Building & Remodeling Expo at MetraPark January 20 & 21. For event details visit BillingsBuildingExpo.com.

Saturday 10am - 5pm • Sunday 10am - 3pm

30,000sf of Exhibits!

Everything for your Home Remodel or New Construction Project Bring your plans & speak with professionals who can help Door Prizes • Workshops • Presentations

BillingsBuildingExpo.com Sunday, Novemeber 5, 2017

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‘Tis the Season for

HOME SAFETY

By KIMBERLY WELZENBACH CEO, Home Builders Association of Billings

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be easy to forget some basic safety precautions. Yet, home owners need to be especially vigilant during this time since not everyone gets into the same holiday spirit.

In fact, crime rates tend to rise during the holiday season – Thanksgiving to New Year’s –because of the increased number of consumers shopping and filling their houses with gifts.

But criminals aren’t the only threat to a home’s safety. Holiday lights and decorations can also pose fire hazards. That means that home owners need to take a few extra safety precautions to keep their families safe during the holiday season.

Home Security If you’ve been thinking about installing a security system, now is a great time to do it. At the very least, make sure your front door is secured with a good quality lock – it can make a difference.

Ask a friend or neighbor to watch your house and take in your newspaper and mail if you plan to spend the holidays away from home.

When traveling, put lights throughout the house on timers according to your normal living pattern.

If you are ordering gifts online, make sure a family member will be home when the boxes are delivered. Or, ask a trusted neighbor to keep the packages for you.

Put gifts in a safe place that cannot be seen from outside of your home.

Do not open your door to strangers. If you are expecting a delivery, know the name of the delivery company and the time they expect to deliver your packages.

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Christmas Trees

Place Christmas trees a safe distance from stoves, radiators, vents, fireplaces and any other heat source that may dry the tree. Inspect the tree for dryness daily.

Make sure trees or other large decorations do not block doors or hallways in your home.

Keep a fire extinguisher near your Christmas tree.

Make sure your family has a fire emergency escape plan. In case of fire, leave your home and call for help from a neighbor’s home.

Lights and Other Decorations Inspect all holiday light wiring. Defective, worn or frayed electrical wiring should be thrown away. Check for the UL label on lights. Also, be sure to use fixtures specifically designed for outdoor use if you decorate your house, trees or yard.

Use no more than three light sets on any one extension cord. Also, don’t run electrical cords under rugs. Be sure all lights are turned off before you go to bed or leave the house.

Candles are one of the top causes of holiday-related fires.

Place candles and other open flames away from decorations.

Never leave burning candles unattended and always supervise children when burning candles.

When buying artificial decorations, check for “flameproof” or “fire retardant” qualities.

Taking the time to follow a few safety precautions will help ensure that your holiday celebrations remain festive for your entire family.

Learn more about home safety at HBABillings.net or nahb.org/forconsumers. For more ideas be sure to attend the 2018 Building & Remodeling Expo at MetraPark January 20 & 21. For event details visit BillingsBuildingExpo.com.

Sunday, Novemeber 5, 2017

New Year, NEW-TO-YOU HOME

By KIMBERLY WELZENBACH CEO, Home Builders Association of Billings The new year is approaching, and you’d like to rejuvenate your home. You’re not going to move walls or build an addition. But you’d like to breathe some new life into what you have. Here are a few easy updates you can do to make your house seem instantly new to you.

Paint a room’s trim. Refresh your main living space by painting the trim. Crisp baseboards and moldings go a long way to revitalizing the whole room. Bright white is a classic color that will complement any décor style.

Replace or recover a piece of furniture. Even one new living room chair or a reupholstered love seat can refresh a room’s look. A new coffee table or area rug will also help change a room’s appearance and serve as a new focal point. Or, even without new furnishings or upholstery, rearranging a seating group to face a different direction can breathe new life into the room.

Consider hanging a wall mirror to create the sense of additional space around a cozy grouping of furniture.

Add fresh accessories. Pillows and throws can quickly change a room’s style by adding vibrant colors or calming neutrals, while also enhancing warmth and comfort. Ceilingto-floor length drapes hung just outside a window’s width seem to expand the room up and out.

Make your home a little smarter. With a variety of economical smart-home hubs to choose from, it’s easier than ever to take that first step into the world of smart-home living. Look for a hub with do-ityourself setup and no monthly fees. Download a free app, buy a few compatible lightbulbs and a smart outlet strip, and you’ll soon be able to remotely control several appliances within your home. From there, consider a smart deadbolt, garage door opener, home security system and/or thermostat.

Give a small bathroom a new character. Bright-colored walls or bold wallpaper patterns

can really make a small bathroom pop. Colors and patterns that would be overwhelming in a larger room work like a decorative accent in the smaller setting.

Or go the other way and make the bathroom an oasis of serenity with light blue-grey walls.

Look at lighting with new eyes. Is there an area that could use more light? A warmer glow?

Add a lamp to a table in a dim corner to open up the room and show off the objects on the table.

Pendant lights aren’t just for dining areas — a stylish pendant fixture hanging next to the arm of the sofa or guest bed is an object of interest as well as a source of light. In the kitchen, install LED strip lighting under cabinets where work surfaces below could use a little illumination.

For more ideas on how to make your home new to you, visit the 2018 Building & Remodeling Expo January 20 & 21, 2018 at MetraPark. For more information on this event visit BillingsBuildingExpo.com or contact the Home Builders Association of Billings at 406-252-7533 or online at HBABillings.net.

Home Winterization Guide

Improve Indoor Air Quality in Advance of Winter Metro Services

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pon the arrival of winter, people in regions where winter is marked by cold weather tend to spend significantly more time indoors. Because windows tend to be closed during winter, indoor air quality can suffer, making conditions inside a home less than desirable.

According to the American Lung Association, poor air circulation in a home can promote the spread of bacteria and viruses.

Once such bacteria or viruses are inhaled, coughs, colds and flu can spread. In addition, asthma and allergy sufferers may experience worsening symptoms thanks to the presence of endotoxins, which are substances that come from the broken-down cells of dead bacteria.

Because many people spend significantly more time indoors during winter than other times of the year, it’s essential that they take measures to improve indoor

Home Winterization Guide

air quality in the months ahead.  Cut back on chemicals.

It’s ideal to avoid heavy chemical usage inside a home throughout the year, but it’s especially important to do so during winter. Solvent-based cleaners or

cleaning products with strong fragrances can negatively affect indoor air quality and potentially trigger allergic reactions. In lieu of chemically-enhanced cleaning products, use natural products that get the job done without sac-

rificing indoor air quality.  Stop smoking indoors.

Tobacco smoke can affect smokers and nonsmokers alike. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that secondhand smoke causes numerous health problems in infants and children.

Those include more frequent and severe asthma attacks and respiratory infections. In addition, reports from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have linked secondhand smoke to an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Adults exposed to secondhand smoke are at greater risk for coronary heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of pollutants that can greatly diminish indoor air quality, so make sure smokers limit their smoking to outside the home throughout the year, but especially during winter.  Take off your shoes when entering the home. Snowy conditions often require a home’s inhabitants and guests to remove

their footwear upon entering a home, but it helps to remove footwear in a mudroom or just inside the front door when entering a home even when it’s not snowing.

Shoes can pick up dirt, dust and a host of other particles during winter, and if tracked inside those unwanted guests can negatively affect indoor air quality.  Routinely inspect bathrooms for mold. During winter, mold can grow in rooms that are exposed to moisture but not properly ventilated.

In many homes, that’s the bat h room.

Even if a bathroom has a ventilation fan, routinely inspect the ceiling and shower for mold growth.

Exposure to mold can cause a host of negative side effects, including nasal and sinus congestion and sore throat. Mold also can exacerbate asthma symptoms.

Sunday, Novemeber 5, 2017

5

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Keep on GOING GREEN This Winter

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Sunday, Novemeber 5, 2017

ach season presents its own unique set of challenges. From summer heat waves to spring rainstorms to snowfall in winter, the planet throws a lot at its inhabitants.

Living an eco-friendly lifestyle is often simple. But sometimes the weather can make it hard to maintain a commitment to going green.

Winter weather can be particularly challenging, as it can be hard to sacrifice convenience and comfort in the face of harsh weather. But there are ways to stay true to your eco-friendly roots even when winter weather is at its most unpleasant.  Save your fireplace ashes. If your home has a fireplace that you like to cozy up next to in winter, you can make great use of the ashes left behind when the fire goes out. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, ashes from wood-burning fireplaces can be added to compost heaps. Once added, these ashes help to create a soil amendment that can deliver valuable nutrients to your garden. After each fire, collect the ashes rather than sweeping them up and discarding them. Then add the

collected ashes to your compost pile when the weather permits.  Install a programmable thermostat. If you don’t already have one, install a programmable thermostat in your home. The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy notes that homeowners can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling costs by turning their thermostats back 7° to 10° F for eight hours per day. Set the thermostat to drop 10°F when the family leaves for work and/or school in the morning, programming it to return to a more comfortable level when the family returns home at night. This saves you from sitting in a cold home while also saving you money by making sure you are not paying to heat an empty house.  Have your home heating system inspected before winter hits full swing. Home heating systems, including boilers and furnaces, should be inspected by a professional each year, ideally before the arrival of winter. Heating systems that are not operating at peak efficiency will cost homeowners money and waste energy. If you notice yourself frequently increasing the temperature on

your thermostat just to keep your home warm and comfortable, call a local HVAC professional to inspect the system. Scheduling such an appointment prior to the arrival of winter can save you the cost and discomfort of living with an inefficient system.  Choose an electric snowblower. Many homeowners now use snowblowers instead of shovels to remove snow from their properties. While snow shovels are the most ecofriendly snow removal tool, even the most eco-conscious homeowners recognize how snowblowers make snow removal easy and more efficient. But gas-powered snowblowers consume substantial amounts of fuel. If you must use a snowblower, choose an electric one instead of one powered by gas.

Even though electric snowblowers consume electricity, the EPA notes that such products leave a smaller carbon footprint than gaspowered snowblowers because they do not emit greenhouse gases.

Harsh winter weather can make it challenging to live in an eco-friendly way.

But there are many ways to withstand winter and do so in a way that does not hurt the planet.

Home Winterization Guide

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our home may be the biggest investment you will ever make. Taking good care of it with regular maintenance is necessary to maintain its value and ensure it will provide a comfortable, safe shelter for you and your family for a long time.

Here is a home maintenance quiz that will test your maintenance knowledge. While this quiz does not address every home maintenance project, it does provide helpful tips and reminders for chores you may have overlooked.

HBA HOME

MAINTENANCE QUIZ 9. Where should the fire in your fireplace be built?

On the andirons or grate, never on the fi replace floor.

10. What will prevent soot and add color to the 18. Why should noisy fire in your fireplace? water pipes be fixed Throw in a handful of promptly?

1. How often do salt.

The condition that forced-air furnace fi lters need to be changed?

11. Where should your causes noisy pipes may be accompanied by vibration At least every three firewood be stored? months during the heating Outside, away from that can cause fittings to season. your house and not directly loosen and leak. on the ground.

19. Why should fro2. What part of the faucet usually needs to 12. What helps keep zen pipes be thawed be replaced when you unpainted concrete slowly?

Frozen pipes should be have a water leak? floors easy to keep clean? thawed slowly to prevent The washer.

Concrete sealer. the formation of steam, 3. Should you run hot 13. What should you which could cause the or cold water through use to clean unpainted pipe to burst. your garbage disposal? concrete floors?

20. How often should Cold water.

A solution of 4 to 6 tablespoons of washing soda your roof be inspected?

A qualified roofer 4. How often should in a gallon of hot water. Mix the moving parts of ga- scouring powder to the so- should inspect your roof every three years. rage doors be oiled? lution for tough jobs.

Every three months.

21. What should be 14. When can you 5. What tools can clean hardwood floors regularly checked on your security system? you use to unclog your with water?

The alarms and cirdrains?

When the floors have a cuit breakers should be A plunger and a plumb- polyurethane fi nish. checked to make sure they er’s snake.

15. Do hardwood are in working order and 6. What tool can be floors need to be waxed? the sensors should be inused to unclog a toilet?

Hardwood floors that spected one by one.

Coil spring-steel auger. do not have a polyurethane 22. To ensure your fi nish probably will need 7. What faucet part to be waxed periodically. safety, what houseneeds to be cleaned Use liquid or paste “spirit” hold equipment uses batteries that must be every three to four wax. checked regularly to months?

Aerator — the screen 16. What is the best make sure they are operable? inside the end of the fau- polish for vinyl floors? cet.

Smoke and carbon Water emulsion wax. monoxide detectors.

8. What can you use 17. When is basement for traction on icy side- condensation at its max23. What do you use walks, steps and drive- imum? to fill nail holes and ways?

In new homes because cracks in plaster walls Cat litter or sand — gallons of water went into and gypsum wallnever use salt because it the concrete of basement board? damages the pavement. walls.

Spackling.

Home Winterization Guide

28. What can you use to help a window slide easily?

Rub the channel with a piece of paraffin.

26. How often do skylights need to be inspected?

Skylights should be inspected each time your roof is inspected so leaks don’t develop from cracks and interruptions around its 24. What is the white seals, caulking and flashpowdery substance that ings. develops on masonry 27. What is a simple walls?

Efflorescence some- solution you can use to times appears on masonry wash extremely dirty walls. It is crystallized exterior windows?

A solution of equal parts soluble salts that can be removed by scrubbing with vinegar and water or 3 tablespoons of denatured water and a stiff brush. alcohol per quart of warm 25. At what tempera- water. Use a piece of crumture should your water pled newspaper to wash the heater be set? glass to avoid lint left be120 degrees Fahrenheit hind by paper towels.

• Hail Damage?

• Remodel?

• New Construction?

29. What should you look for when you inspect your siding yearly?

Determine if wood-sided homes need to be repainted; check to see if the caulking around the windows and doors has split and cracked, and replace the caulk; clean the mildew; trim shrubbery away so it does not touch the siding.

For additional tips and ideas visit the 2018 Building & Remodeling Expo January 20 & 21 at MetraPark or contact the Home Builders Association of Billings at 406-252-7533 or online at HBABillings.net.

Let us help you achieve the perfect look with quality windows & doors from Windsor.

Visit our showroom at 2950 King Ave West or call us for a free estimate 406-969-1491. www.benchmarksash.com Sunday, Novemeber 5, 2017

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3

Pre-Winter

your sourcE for rEal EstatE

LAWN CARE

POINTERS

Metro Services

Winter weather can be harsh, especially on lawns.

Homeowners who spend much of spring and summer tending to their lawns may fear the impact that winter will have on their once-lush landscapes, making the fall a great time to fortify lawns against any harsh conditions to come.

Homeowners must take grass type into consideration before taking steps to prepare their lawns for the winter. Some grasses are best fertilized in late-summer, while others should be fertilized in autumn. Coolseason grasses, including fescue and bluegrass, are best fertilized sometime between the months of September and November. Warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda or zoysia, should be fertilized between July and September. Once homeowners have gained a greater understanding of their lawns, they can begin exploring the various ways to prepare their lawns for whatever winter has in store.

strengthen and harden plants, and cool-season grasses may need extra potassium as winter settles in. Homeowners who are not sure if they should apply winterizing fertilizer can conduct soil tests to determine the potassium levels in their soil. If the test indicates the soil has sufficient potassium, then applying a winterizing fertilizer is likely unnecessary. In addition, homeowners who have fed their lawn a balance of throughout spring 1. Explore winterizing nutrients and summer likely will not fertilizers. need to apply winterizing Homeowners who want fertilizer. to make their grasses more winter hardy can consult 2. Get rid of fallen landscaping professionals to determine if winterizing leaves.

While fallen leaves may fertilizers will work for their lawns. These specially for- be integral components of mulated fertilizers, many of idyllic autumn landscapes, which are made exclusively leaves left on the lawn for cool-season grasses, throughout the winter may contain higher levels of po- lead to disease in the grass. tassium and lower levels of Leaves trap moisture and nitrogen than early-season block sunlight and air from fertilizers. Potassium helps reaching grass, and that

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Sunday, Novemeber 5, 2017

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can encourage the development of disease. In addition, leaves can harbor insects that also may contribute to disease. While it might seem like common sense to delay leaf removal until the end of autumn when all the leaves have fallen, that, too, can prove harmful to lawns.

Leaves left laying on lawns for long periods of time can contribute to the same types of damage as leaves left on the lawn throughout winter, so do your best to remove leaves as they fall.

3. Take steps to fight snow mold.

Homeowners who live in regions where snow falls into spring or where spring tends to be cold and damp may want to take steps to prevent snow mold. Gray snow mold typically looks fuzzy and gray, and lawns infested with snow mold may develop unsightly gray or brown spots indicative of dead grass. Pink snow mold may be even worse than gray snow mold because pink mold attacks the roots as well as the leaves. To prevent snow mold, continue mowing into the fall, even as lawns grow dormant, clearing the lawn of grass clippings and leaves after each mow. Thick lawns may provide a breeding ground for snow mold, so homeowners whose lawns have a history of developing snow mold may benefit from mowing their lawns into the fall.

Winter is rarely easy on lawns, but homeowners can take several steps to prepare their lawns for potentially harsh winter weather.

1.

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Find homes in your price range and location.

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avaIlablE In thE app storE. Home Winterization Guide