As we approach the fall and enter into winter soon; it’s a good time of year to prepare your home for those blustery days when sitting under your patio cover does not sound as appealing anymore. While you may not experience snow and ice during the winter season, there are some excellent home maintenance chores that will ensure that your home is running smoothly year round. Save energy and avoid damage by following these tips to winterize your home.
1. Have your furnace and air ducts inspected.
Checking out your furnace by an HVAC professional is a good step towards safety. While there, he or she can replace the filters, check the motor, fan and any gas piping to the furnace, as well as confirm safety with carbon monoxide emissions. Another task you can request of the HVAC professional is a check on all the air ducts to the home. Up to 60% of warm air escapes before getting to the vents, it’s been shown in some studies, so protect that air and have those leaks sealed.
2. Block air leaks
Air leaks in your home are another way that energy is wasted. The U.S. Department of Energy states that 5-30% of home energy waste is caused by drafts. Even though your patio cover may protect the back of your home somewhat, other windows and doors that are leaky can be sealed. A simple door snake or a rolled up towel can protect a drafty door, or consider replacing the door insulation. Windows can be caulked or weather-stripped from the outside, and check those places on your home where pipes and wires exit from your foundation. The most thorough check can be done using a Thermal Leak Detector, purchased at a home improvement store.
3. Trim nearby trees
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While the potential for heavy snow and ice is not likely for some readers, trimming trees is a good idea anyway. Dead tree limbs that are caught in heavy winds can do serious damage. If the trees are near your patio cover, the cover will protect your windows underneath it, but the roof can be at risk. Check with your local department of agriculture or even a local garden store to find out when it is appropriate to cut limbs, as some trees do not do well when trimmed during certain times of the year.
4. Reverse your fans
A ceiling fan not only works to cool your home in the summer, but can also serve to keep it warmer in the winter – with the flick of a switch. Almost every modern ceiling fan produced has a switch on the motor to reverse the direction the blades turn. When they are spinning counter-clockwise – the usual direction that fans are set to when installed – the air is forced down, to cool the room. When the switch is made to have the blades turning clockwise, the air is forced upwards, compelling the warmer air at the top of the ceiling to flow down into the room, without causing much of a wind. This could also work on the fans on your patio cover, especially if you have a solid ceiling.
5. Winterize your A/C
If you don’t think you’ll be using your air conditioner during the winter months, take a few steps to clean it and then cover it to prevent rust. Drain any pipes or hoses coming from your A/C unit and clean out the pan that condensation has dripped into. These steps can lengthen its life.
Every region of the United States has a cooler time and a warmer time during the year. Even if you don’t feel that much difference from one season to the next, it’s a good idea to make a check of some of the vital care items of your home. A vinyl patio cover will provide a degree of insulation during a cold winter day, but most likely will offer a more protected space for you to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa!
