FOR BREaAKING tNEWS VIhSIT WWWo.QNS.COmM e OCTOBER 12, 2017 • AT HOME • THE QUEENS COURIER 47
Get your home ready for winter now
From the holidays to cold-weather fun
like ice skating and skiing, winter promises
its share of good times. Preparing
your home for winter’s weather extremes
can help ensure that you get the maximum
enjoyment out of the season, while
protecting your home’s vital systems and
indoor comfort.
“Winter weather can take a toll on
homes, so it’s important to take steps to
protect systems like HVAC and plumbing
before cold weather arrives,” says
Emily Lewicki, brand manager with
Luxaire(R). “Properly winterizing your
home can help keep it more comfortable,
prevent damage from cold and ice,
improve effi ciency and help reduce heating
bills.”
Lewicki recommends vital winterization
steps to get your home ready for the
season:
1. Prepare your gas furnace.
During the summer, you probably
didn’t think much about your furnace,
but as winter approaches it’s important
to make sure all elements of your home’s
heating system are in top working order.
If you haven’t already scheduled a professional
service appointment for your
furnace, now is the time. A professional
technician is best equipped to ensure that
furnaces are ready for winter.
Meanwhile, steps you can do yourself
include:
• Remove any items that might have
gotten stored near the furnace during
the summer. Likewise, make sure air
returns and vents are clean and not
blocked by furniture or other items.
• Change the air fi lter. If you have trouble
remembering when it’s time to replace
fi lters, try setting reminders on your
smartphone according to the furnace
manufacturer’s recommended schedule.
• Update your thermostat’s programming
to refl ect your winter schedule. If you
don’t have a programmable thermostat,
consider installing one; a properly programmed
thermostat can reduce energy
bills up to $180 a year, according to the
ENERGYSTAR.gov website.
If your current furnace is more than
10 years old and frequently needs repair,
consider replacing it before winter gets
into full swing. Extreme cold can make
a worn furnace work harder and possibly
fail altogether when you need it
most. High-effi ciency gas furnaces like a
Luxaire(R) Acclimate(TM) gas furnace
can help ensure that you’re never without
heat during the winter, while also saving
money on utility bills. Th ese ENERGY
STAR qualifi ed furnaces are 15 to 25 percent
more energy effi cient than standard
models, meaning they require less fuel
to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.
2. Protect windows and doors.
Up to a third of the heat lost from
an average home escapes through windows
and doors, according to the U.S.
Department of Energy. Before winter
arrives, take these steps to protect windows
and doors from air leaks, draft s and
heat loss:
• Check weather stripping on doors and
caulking around windows. If any are
damaged or worn, replace them.
• Install storm windows to further reduce
draft s.
• Use temporary measures like draft
dodgers along the base of doors and
removable insulation kits over windows
to help keep cold air out and warm air
inside.
3. Manage pipes and
water sources.
Extremely low temperatures can cause
water pipes to burst, causing a loss
of water and possibly extensive damage
to your home if fl ooding occurs.
Uninsulated pipes can also cause heat
loss, which increases energy costs.
To minimize winter’s impact on pipes
and other water-related systems, take
these steps:
• Place insulation on exposed pipes
that carry hot water, especially if they
are warm or hot to the touch. Th e
Department of Energy says insulating
pipes can increase water temperature
by 2 to 4 degrees, allowing you to lower
the setting on your water heater to conserve
energy.
• Have outdoor water supplies like irrigation
systems professionally drained and
winterized to prevent freezing and costly
damage.
• Flush the water heater to remove particles
and sediment that collects inside
the unit over time, hindering its effi -
ciency. If you don’t have a gas-powered
water heater, you can wrap it with insulation
to improve its effi ciency.
Finally, check on your home’s insulation
in key areas like attics and basements.
If your home needs more insulation,
or the insulation you have is in bad
shape, add more before winter arrives.
Th e Insulation Institute off ers an online
guide to help you understand how much
insulation you need.
“Winterizing is the best way to protect
your home from cold-related damage,
and ensure your home’s heating system
operates at maximum effi ciency throughout
cold weather,” Lewicki says.
Courtesy BPT