Fall is your home’s ideal winterizing season. Sealing up and insulating your house now before temperatures drop will help lower your cold-weather energy bills to come. Many do-it-yourself (DIY) winterizing efforts are economical, and your utility savings will recoup any minor expenses to preserve your house. Check out typical trouble spots with common fixes so they won’t become major issues while autumn turns into winter.

Windows and Doors

All houses settle with age. When windows and doors shift, gaps can develop around their edges. Wind blowing cold air through those crevices will displace indoor heat, and warming up chilly drafts can be costly. To stop those gusts, caulk seams and trim meeting walls. Consider removing existing trim and upgrading your insulation surrounding frames. Replace any cracked window glass. If you swap out an entire window including the frame, prime all exposed wood before painting it.

Check all weather stripping in doorframes for deterioration that repeated use can cause. Replace any worn-out sections. If air comes in under doors, install door sweeps. Or place draft stoppers on floors. Making your own is easy. Just fill fabric tubes with cotton batting for quilting, fiberfill stuffing for pillows, foam, polypropylene pellets, or uncooked rice.

Heat Sources

A professional furnace inspection can make sure that your system is in good running order. An HVAC technician also should examine your ductwork for air seepages and debris. Because your ducts stretch through unheated areas, small leaks can waste huge energy amounts. After sealing your ducts properly, wrapping them in insulation will increase their energy efficiency.

Air duct cleaning can be beneficial for various problems including unexplained allergies, mold, visible contaminants, infestations, and remodeling residue. Call Cooper Climate Control at 480-460-7417 for trained technicians to handle all of your heating service and repair needs.

Your fireplace or wood-burning stove also needs an inspection and cleaning. A chimney sweep can remove built-up creosote and soot. Seal or replace mortar to shore up brick or stone chimneys. A screen or cap covering your chimney’s top will keep out birds and rodents. Because a faulty damper could cause major heat loss, be certain that it’s functional, opens properly, and shuts tightly.

Throughout the heating season, replace your air filters regularly. If anyone in your household has respiratory health issues, consider high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters for the best indoor air quality. They remove common offenders like pollens, animal dander, and other small airborne particulates.

Exterior Concerns

If you have storm windows and/or doors, be sure that they fit securely so the extra air space will provide adequate insulation. Replace worn and loose roof tiles or shingles so rain can’t get under them ­and cause leaks. Verify that your roof’s flashing will prevent water from coming inside.

Remove any leaves and other debris from your gutters. Spray water with a hose into your downspouts to free any remains. When blockages prevent water flow, even though you may think it’s warm enough here, any ice buildup could damage your roof and cause leaks. Installing leaf guards, screens that cover gutters, will keep them cleaner. Adding extensions to your downspouts will enable aiming water away from your home.

Plumbing Issues

Drain window air conditioners, swamp coolers, and your home’s irrigation system. Seal gaps where A/C units meet walls, trim, or roofs. Cover them with insulating blankets. Seal any exposed entry points surrounding water pipes. Wrap your hot water heater with an insulation blanket.

Emergency Provisions

Establish a convenient location for all emergency supplies. Store indoor candles with lighters or matches in case a power outage occurs. Include a list of all utility company phone numbers. Equip the area with bottled water, non-perishable foods, a first-aid kit, and blankets. Purchase a fire extinguisher or replace one that’s over 10 years old. Create your family’s evacuation plan.

Energy Audit

To discover your home’s overall energy efficiency, contact Cooper Climate Control to conduct an energy audit. We’re BPI (Building Performance Institute) certified and we can help you learn how to save energy and money. He’ll enter details including house size, HVAC system, and insulation into specialized software. The blower door test determines leak locations. Your report will indicate how you can improve your entire structure to achieve better performance.

Another option, a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) inspection, will compare your home’s efficiency to a model. As a living document, your auditor’s report will change along with your home’s condition. Doing recommended upgrades will raise your score.