WEATHERPROOFING & WINTERIZING YOUR HOME
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Whether you’ve lived in your home for many years or you’re moving into a new home, it’s important to prepare for the cold winter months.
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Freezing temperatures, snow, and ice can cause the inside temperature of your home to drop to dangerously low levels.
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Weatherproofing and winterizing your home will keep your family comfortable and safe and help you save on winter energy costs.
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Following are helpful tips to get you through the winter more comfortably.
Winter Is Fast Approaching
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Your home can lose a tremendous amount of heat from leaky windows and doors.
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Install or replace worn weather stripping under entry doors and around windows.
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Hang plastic or shrink wrap over large windows as a cost-effective way to reduce heat loss.
• Quick Tip: Hold a lit candle near windows and entry door frames. If the candle blows out, it’s time to install or replace weather stripping.
Windows & Doors
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Ensuring your furnace and thermostat are in good working order and your ductwork is intact can greatly increase the efficiency of your heating system.
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Replace your furnace filter regularly. A clogged filter can greatly reduce the performance of your heater and even lead to breakdowns.
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Inspect your ducts for mold, excessive dust and debris, and any leaks, or hire an expert to check the heating duct system, if you spot any problems.
Furnaces & Ductwork
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Missing shingles or other roof materials can cause heat loss. Have your roof inspected and any missing materials replaced.
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Accumulations of leaves, dirt, and other debris on your roof can lead to rot, and the weight of snow and debris can seriously stress your roof.
• Quick Tip: Use a broom, shovel, or hose to quickly remove debris from your home’s gutters.
Gutters & Roof
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While newer homes are generally well insulated, older homes can have haphazardly installed insulation or no insulation at all.
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Installing new insulation can be costly, but bear in mind that you shouldn’t have to do it again anytime soon.
• Quick Tip: Many utility companies offer courtesy energy audits to help homeowners determine whether there is adequate insulation.
Insulation
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Keep the chimney clean and free of creosote, and always scrape the ashes/creosote out of the fireplace or wood stove when not in use.
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For wood stoves, make sure the connections from the flue vent to the wall and from the vent to the stove are secure. Hire an expert to check fireplaces, chimneys, and wood stoves if preferred.
• Quick Tip: Make sure the chimney has a screen to prevent birds from nesting in or around the chimney.
Fireplaces, Chimneys & Wood Stoves
Exterior: •
Insulate exposed water pipes to prevent pipes from bursting.
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Apply expanding insulation or caulking into gaps or holes in exterior walls.
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Cover central a/c units to protect them from rain, snow, and the elements.
Interior: •
Reverse your ceiling fans to help circulate warm air around the house.
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Open register vents and air returns inside the house.
Home Exterior & Interior
It’s important to be prepared in case your heating system breaks down or a natural disaster occurs. Keep the following supplies on hand: •
Flashlights
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Candles and matches
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Plenty of bottled water (1-3 gallons per person, per day, for 7 days)
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Several blankets
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Emergency food supplies
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Battery-powered radio or two-way device
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Extra prescription medications
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First-aid kit
Emergency Preparedness
For more than 30 years, Shleppers Moving & Storage has been the premier residential and commercial moving service for families, businesses, and organizations. Dedicated to providing unmatched customer service and reliability, Shleppers remains the go-to moving company from New York to Miami.
For more information on and to schedule your move, call (800) 84-SHLEP or visit www.shleppers.com