The days are getting shorter and colder, which means that there is no time to waste in doing the final preparations for winter in Tacoma, WA. You’ve probably already completed the fall cleanup, put the patio furniture away and cleaned up the leaves.
Now it is time to tend to some specific tasks that will keep your home warm and safe throughout the winter season. Here are some must-haves on your homeowner winter survival checklist.
Fire & Carbon Monoxide Danger
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent killer, so it is imperative that your family be protected with a working alarm to alert you to danger.
It is important that your smoke detectors be in good working order to allow your family time to escape in the event of a fire.
Test all units and put in new batteries. Take the lid off, and clean inside, like dust, debris, and even spider webs will gather inside over time. Be sure never to paint over the units either.
Remember to Insulate and Ventilate
You likely know that heat rises, but did you know that up to 25 percent of your home’s heat is in danger of escaping your home if the attic and roof aren’t properly insulated? That’s a lot!
Inspect the insulation up there to make sure that everything is intact. Take special care to make sure that it is snug against the walls. Look for tears. Remember that heat will escape if there are any tears.
It’s also important to make sure that your home is well ventilated. Although you tend to focus on air circulation during the summer months to stay cool, it is also important for air to move in the winter.
That’s because if your home is too damp, it won’t heat evenly. Pull out furniture from the walls in the basement. Run a fan or open windows for a couple of minutes a day. For reliable air circulation, think about a whole home ventilation system.
De-Ice for Safety
Your driveway and walkway can quickly become a danger zone as the temperature falls. Don’t injure yourself by falling on the ice.
You should stock up now on de-icing salt and make sure that it is somewhere accessible. You can also use sand if you prefer, as it accomplishes the same thing for a lower price.
However, it is important to know that sand can be very messy, so it’s best to stick with what you know works and will make the process easier. Remembering to keep any of these components at hand can be extremely important. Frozen pipes can clog up your home’s entire plumbing system, a very costly issue which is better to prevent.