8 Tips to Winterize Your West Knoxville Home

Winter Time is here and it helps to take a few steps to winterize your home. Just by doing a few simple things outside and inside can add up to BIG savings. Here are a few quick and easy things you can do

1) Prevent Plumbing Freezes

Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
Disconnect all garden hoses from Hose Bib and protect hose bib
Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees and shut off main water valve.
During Extreme Cold weather leave interior faucet dripping and cabinet doors open where plumbing is located.

2) HVAC/ Furnace Inspection

Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.
Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.

3) Get the Fireplace Ready

Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds.
If the chimney hasn’t been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.
Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.

4) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows

Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.

5) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts

Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home.
Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.
Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.

6) Check Foundations

Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.
Secure Crawl Space entrances.

7) Flip the switch on your ceiling fan.

This one is really easy, just flip the rotation direction on your ceiling fans. As hot air rises in the winter, you want the fan to blow upward and slowly. This circulates the hot air back down into the room. When it becomes warmer, you want the fans to blow downward and quickly to cool you off.

8) Do not use Salt or Chemicals on Concrete including driveways, patios and sidewalks. This can damage the finish permanently.