FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Amanda Edmunds
I & E Insurance Agency
www.getinsurancequotetoday.com
732-295-5584
ineagency@gmail.com
Winter is coming! Which means it’s time to begin winterizing your home and business. Properly winterizing can protect your family from the elements and set the precedent for more energy-efficient and cost-effective living year-round. Here are 7 ways to effectively winterize your home this winter.
1. Have a Professional Inspect Your Furnace
The first step to winterizing your home or business should be to call an HVAC professional that can inspect your furnace and clean your ducts. This tune-up will ensure that your heating system is running safely and efficiently. A heating system tune-up will generally include:
A Carbon Monoxide Safety Check
Air Filters Cleaned and Replaced
Blower Operation Check
Cleaned Motor and Fan
Gas Piping Inspection
Outside of this inspection, stock up on new filters for your furnace and change them monthly. Dirty filters can reduce your furnace’s efficiency or cause a fire if left for long enough.
2. Check Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
With winter’s arrival comes an increase in home fires and cases of carbon monoxide poisoning. This is because households are using their furnaces and boilers to keep warm in the winter chill. Make sure that the batteries on both your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors are working and replace them if necessary.
3. Insulate Pipes
As water freezes, pressure can build-up and cause pipes to burst. You must adequately insulate both your exterior or interior pipes to keep your home and business protected from the elements. Use wrapping or slip-on foam pipe insulation, insulation sleeves and seal all visible cracks. Continue to protect your pipes by maintaining a heating source inside of the building.
4. Use Draft Guards
Heat can often escape underneath doors. It’s important, when winterizing your home, that you place draft guards under your doors. This prevents the loss of heat and saves you from wasting energy. Generally, draft guards cost anywhere between $10 and $20.
5. Clean Your Gutters
Clogged gutters can cause water backups and freezes near the edge of your roof. This is called an ice dam, which blocks the path of melted snow from your roof and results in mini reservoirs that seep into your house and cause water damage. Make sure that you clean out dead leaves and other gunk and debris from your gutter so that water drains freely.
6. Prepare a 72 Hour Emergency Kit
Often, harsh weather strikes when you least expect it and you’re left scrambling the week of a big storm to gather supplies. Keeping a 72-hour emergency kit stocked with food, water, and other necessary supplies can save you from making the dangerous trek to the grocery store. Buy a pre-made kit online or create your own kit to save money.
Protecting your home takes more than just winterizing, however! You must have adequate insurance to cover your home from the unforeseen and uncontrollable. Use an agency you can trust! At I & E Insurance, we understand the importance of family and protecting our loved ones and have a plan to suit all of your needs and fit your budget.