WINTERIZING YOUR HOME

Prepare your home for harsher weather coming this way!

Chilly temps are heading our way. Make sure your home is prepared with these tips.

Prevent pipes from freezing
Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes. Allow a small stream of water to flow in your kitchen and bathroom sinks overnight.

Protect your garden hose
Any water left in your hose will freeze and expand, putting pressure on your hose and your plumbing. The simple solution is to unscrew your hose, completely drain it, and store it.

Keep garage doors closed
Clear the snow away from your garage door so the door shuts all the way. If your garage door is open, all the cold air will come in and your furnace won't be able to keep up resulting in your pipes freezing.

Check your furnace
Make sure your furnace isn't covered up with snow or anything else. If you have a 90 percent furnace where it's exhausting out the side, it can clog the intake and not get any air resulting in your furnace shutting off.

Replace furnace filter
A dirty filter will shorten the lifespan of your HVAC unit, and raise your monthly energy bills. You should replace your furnace filter whenever it gets dirty, which can mean every few months or even once a month. At a minimum, you should change your filter twice a year--once before winter and once before summer.

Smoke and carbon dioxide detectors
Check the batteries on your carbon monoxide detector. If your furnace exhaust comes out of the roof, the snow might be blocking it, causing carbon monoxide to build up inside your home, which is a big danger.

Reverse ceiling fans
Everybody thinks of using fans in the summer, but they can help you stay warm in the winter too. Set the blades to turn clockwise to circulate warm air from the ceiling down into the room.

Winterize your irrigation system
To minimize the risk of freeze damage, you'll need to winterize your irrigation system. Due to the potential dangers involved with winterization, it is best to call a professional. Most irrigation professionals run between $25 and $50 for this service.