Are you ready for winter? Although here in Florida, it’s still a balmy 75, you may be somewhere that gets really cold for the season!
How about a great recipe for a yummy warm drink? Everyone in the family will enjoy this layered mocha. If you want to serve to adults only, add a dollop of Bailey’s Irish Cream.
And everyone always enjoys new, warm and cozy pajamas. Check out these from OnePiece. They make them in both adult and kid sizes, and they’re great for chilly winter evenings.
And don’t forget to get your home ready for cold weather. You can do a lot of things yourself and these tips will help protect your investment in your home and may even lower your utility bills.
For less than $100, you can have a technician come out who can take a look at your heat pump or furnace to be sure the system is in good repair, is clean, and that it is working to its greatest efficiency. This inspection should also measure whether you have any leakage of carbon-monoxide.
Do you have ceiling fans? If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch, set it to operate the fan in a clockwise direction after your heat is turned on. The fan will now take the heated air from closer to the ceiling since heat rises and then push it down into the room.
This is extremely helpful if your rooms have high ceilings – and you may even be able to turn down your thermostat a little for even more energy savings.
Last year, if you had a lot of icicles on your roof, take note. The meltwater can back up and run into your house, so take steps that it doesn’t happen
Does your home have an attic? A weatherization contractor or auditor who specializes in home energy can locate and repair air leaks and insulation that is inadequate in the attic of your home. This could potentially cause ice dams.
Check out your roof and look for missing, loose or damaged shingles that could leak during the storms of winter or from melting snow.
If necessary, find a repairman to fix or replace a few shingles. If it’s a larger area, check with a roofer. It’s also a good idea to repair and check breaks in the flashing seals around chimneys and vent stacks, too.
If you have a flat roof that has a pebble and asphalt surface, blow off or rake pine needles and fall leaves, because they hold moisture. (Leave the pebbles alone – don’t move them; you don’t want to expose the asphalt to sunlight that could damage it.)
A few simple steps can prepare your home for a worry free winter.
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