Steps to Prepare a Home for a Northeast Winter

by Margot Friedlander

U.S. News Real Estate

https://realestate.usnews.com › real-estate › articles › …

11 Steps to Winterize a House – U.S. News Real Estate

Home preparation for winter includes getting ready to stay warm in cold temperatures. Clean your chimney and fireplace, ensuring no residue or grime is built up and vents are clear. Test your smoke and … See more

What temperature should a house be in winter?

The cost of your heating and cooling bills often plays a part in the temperature you stick with during summer and winter – in summer, you may be willing to keep your house at 72 degrees or higher, while in winter, you may lower the target temperature to 68 degrees.

11 Steps to Winterize a House – U.S. News Real Estate

1. Clean Out Gutters and Clear the Roof. Leaves, sticks and other bits of nature make their way onto your roof and into your gutters during the fall. Before the first heavy snowfall, be sure to clear debris from your roof and gutters to prevent a buildup of ice and snow, also known as an ice dam, that can get under shingles and cause leaks and water damage inside your house.

2. Insulate the Attic. Another way to reduce the chances of an ice dam forming is to insulate your attic floor. This helps keep the living areas of your house warmer, explains Anne Cope, chief engineer at the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety in Richburg, South Carolina.

3. Have Your Heating System Serviced. Have your heating and ventilation system checked and cleaned before the weather gets too cold. If you wait until the first cold snap or snowstorm of the season, many service professionals will be overbooked.

4. Adjust Your Thermostat. The cost of your heating and cooling bills often plays a part in the temperature you stick with during summer and winter – in summer, you may be willing to keep your house at 72 degrees or higher, while in winter you may lower the target temperature to 68 degrees.

5. Prepare Your Plumbing. Ensure your plumbing is set up to withstand the cold, and consider utilizing sensors to let you know when there’s a problem. In Northern states where freezing temperatures are expected during a portion of the year, housing codes require insulation and for pipes to be properly protected from the cold.

See full list on realestate.usnews.com