Winterizing Your Home? Tips to Prepare for Cold Weather

During the winter months, homes have a way of getting cold and drafty. Chilly temperatures make problems for homeowners for a variety of reasons. Winterizing at this time of year can save homeowners time and money. If you're a homeowner who would like to take care of your property, here's what you can do to protect your home in the winter months.

Install Weatherstripping

Weatherstripping can take many forms, but commonly weatherstripping takes the form of foam strips installed around window and door frames. Weatherstripping closes the gap between the window and door, thus preventing drafts from making rooms uncomfortable when temperatures outside drop.

>Weatherstripping is easy to install, and can be installed by homeowners without specialized training or tools. Homeowners who want to install weatherstripping must first measure the gaps between the windows and doors, and purchase weatherstripping of that size. Weatherstripping can be cut down with a utility knife. Weatherstripping is self-adhesive, so it's easy to install.

Improve Attic Insulation

Long ago, energy efficiency expectations were different, and many homes were not as well insulated as they are today. Proper home insulation is very important. It's common for older homes to have little or no insulation in the attic. Homeowners who want to improve their home's efficiency can do so by improving attic insulation.

An attic needs more insulation if the current insulation is at or below the joists. To boost the insulation, homeowners must install insulation in the spaces between the joists until the joists have been completely hidden by insulation. For this job, some homeowners use fiberglass batts, other homeowners use loose fill insulation. Both work well for this purpose.

Insulate Your Pipes

When temperatures outside drop, pipes can freeze. Wrapping protective insulation around pipes can protect them from dangerously low temperatures. Although homeowners can >insulate their pipes by wrapping them in fiberglass batts or even newspaper, pipe insulation is the best product for this job. Pipe insulation is designed to fit perfectly around pipes. It also comes with adhesive inside to make installation easy.

Work With a Professional

Winterizing can save McKenzie Lake homeowners money. Homeowners who want to ensure that their home is properly protected for the winter can do so by working with a contractor or energy auditor. For more information about how you can make your home more comfortable and protected from winter's chill, contact a professional in your area.