Even if your heater is working properly, without proper insulation it’s wasting your money. A badly insulated home is vulnerable to cold drafts, moisture and energy leaks. If you have been noticing leaks and drafts, your home likely needs insulation repairs.
Insulation should be on both the interior and exterior walls of your home. If the house was built before 1965, it may not have any insulation at all! Insulating an older home is one of the easiest ways to save money on electricity and heating bills as well.
With the highest R-value, closed-cell spray foam insulation is the best insulation product in Central Virginia. Contact a spray foam insulation company to examine your home and install spray foam before the weather cools down.
Air leaks in your home are fairly common, but usually also fairly easy to fix. Areas such as around windows and doors, recessed lighting, wiring holes, and attic hatches are the usual culprits. Usually these air leaks can be plugged with caulk or weather stripping to prevent the warm air escaping.
Sometimes an air leak comes when there’s not enough insulation in a particular area. It’s a good idea to fill in any gaps in your insulation as soon as you find them.
Air leaks can also cause ice dams, which can damage your roof, shingles, and gutters. Water damage often occurs as well.
Along with your home’s insulation, you want to check the heating system. Make sure to clean all of the vents in your home and replace furnace filters. Check and make sure the vents are not being covered by items such as furniture, curtains or rugs. Also schedule an annual inspection of your heating system.
When you first turn on your heater for the year, you will likely notice a slight burning smell. Even well cared for systems will do this, it’s not a problem. However, if it lasts for more than a few minutes, it definitely should be looked at.
Check the fireplaceInspect your chimney and fireplace to ensure the damper opens and closes correctly. Also make sure that it’s free of leaves, branches and other obstructions. Check to see if there’s blocking your chimney that can cause potential problems such as chimney fires.
If you see any damage, have a professional come out to inspect it and fix any problems. Consider hiring a chimney sweep to clean your chimney every year or two.
During the summer months, your gutters and downspouts may have gotten cluttered with dirt, leaves and debris. As leaves begin to fall, they can get caught in your gutters and clog them up. Clogged gutters will prevent your drainage system from working properly. Debris can also freeze in your gutters in the wintertime, causing them to crack and break.
Clean out your gutters and then test them to ensure they are free of leaks and damage. If your gutters are broken, replace them quickly to prevent water damage to your home.
Once the weather has cooled down and you no longer need your air conditioner, cover up the outdoor unit for winter. If you use removable window units, cover or remove them to prevent drafts. If you aren’t removing your units, make sure you have caulked around them to prevent air leaks. Be sure to unplug and clean the units before removing and storing them.
While our Virginia Fall season tends to be fairly mild, cold weather is coming quickly. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, winter this year will be cold and either wet or snowy. Make sure you and your home are prepared for a cold winter!
