Is Your Basement Ready for Winter? Here are 5 Things You Should Do.
Even though it feels like you just finished packing up the pool noodles for the season, and have barely had time to settle into your pumpkin spice groove, winter isn’t really that far away. What can you do now to ensure that your home stays comfortable when temperatures start to drop?
Most homeowners think about adding or replacing weather stripping, and sealing cracks around windows and doors to eliminate drafts in main living areas. Often, however, the basement is overlooked when winterizing the home. Commonly, HVAC systems and their important components are located in the basement, and if the basement is cold and drafty the furnace has to work much harder to keep the rest of the home at a comfortable temperature (which also translates to higher utility bills). Keeping the basement warm and dry not only improves the overall energy-efficiency and comfort level of your home, but also protects these expensive systems.
Take note of these 5 easy steps to enjoy a more comfortable winter in your home:
1. Seal windows
Cold air can easily come through basement windows–especially if your home has single-pane, steel-framed windows, which are more likely to rust and allow cold air to come into the home.
2. Insulate walls
Basement wall insulation retains heat, giving the HVAC system a break. The less the furnace has to work, the cheaper your utility bills will be.
3. Insulate metal pipes
Pipes can burst if they freeze, leading to costly and messy basement damage you don’t even want to think about. Sheets of foam insulation work best, secured with a sturdy tape. Foam pipe covering in 1/2″ – 3/4″ thicknesses x 6′ lengths are sold in home improvement stores, and also serve to insulate exposed pipes. Either way, the old adage holds true here: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
4. Examine ductwork
If there is exposed ductwork in the basement, make sure it’s dust free and then seal up joints, grooves, and leaks with aluminum tape. You may also want to consider having the ductwork in your home professionally cleaned.
5. Service HVAC
Before turning on the heat this season, book an appointment with a trusted HVAC company to inspect and service your home’s heating and cooling systems. A thorough check-up is not expensive and goes way beyond simply changing out the furnace filter. Potential problems can be diagnosed and addressed before they become emergencies, and you’ll breathe easier knowing that everything is in tip-top working order.
