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Winterize Your Home For Comfort And Savings
As the temperatures begin to dip and heating costs rise, it is important for homeowners to take preventative measures to protect their homes through cold months ahead.
Ellen Kale, president of the Monmouth County Association of REALTORS ®, says, Preparing now can help avoid a lot of potential headaches and make a difference in your heating bills this winter."
Kale offers seven important steps to help safeguard your home this winter:
Inspect the exterior and interior of your home for cracks, leaks and drafts. Pay close attention to the areas around windows, doors, outdoor faucets, electrical outlets and recessed lighting. Caulk and weather-strip if necessary. Install door sweeps to close spaces under exterior doors and storm windows and doors if you have them.
Check your insulation. Make sure you have adequate insulation in your attic, basement and exterior walls. Insulating the attic floor can help save on heating bills. If you have an older home, consider adding a second layer of insulation to your attic.
Examine the chimney to make sure it is clear of leaves and animal nests. Check the damper to make sure it closes tightly to keep cold air out when the fireplace is not in use. Experts suggest you have a professional sweep and clean your chimney every year.
Make sure the heating system is operating properly. Clean ducts and change filters. Consider installing programmable thermostats and having the furnace professionally cleaned and tuned annually.
Wrap your water heater and insulate your water pipes to help reduce your energy costs. Drain hoses, outdoor faucets, sprinkler systems and air conditioner pipes. Turn off the inside valves to outdoor faucets.
Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Replace the batteries. Keep a fire extinguisher handy; replace it every 10 years.
Inspect gutters after most of the leaves have fallen. Look at the wood behind the gutters to see if it is in need of repairs. Check trees for any loose or damaged branches that could fall during a winter storm and damage your home.
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