5 Tips for Winterizing your Home

Tips to Winterizing your Home

1.       Clean those gutters 

2.       Block those leaks

3.       Insulate the attic

4.       Check the furnace

5.       Wrap those pipes

For more information give Fauser Home Improvement a call at (309) 792-3122.

Frost on Windows

The collection of frost on a house's windows is beautiful, but it can damage wooden framing, discolor varnished interior frames and dislodge mitered corners on wooden or metal windows. Frost, usually accompanied by underlying ice, forms when moisture collects on one side of a window drawn into place by heat on the other. That's why a two-pane window offers more protection from frost and ice formation.

It's difficult to scrape windows, once they're frosted over. A hair dryer can help melt the ice and a towel can mop up excessive water. To prevent frost from forming on windows, interior air should be warm and relatively dry. By turning on a small electric heater in a room a couple of hours before sundown, windows typically will not frost on the interior. Taping or stapling plastic sheeting over the interior or exterior of windows can help. Since drafty windows drive up heat bills, it's cost-effective to install storm or thermal windows in many cases.

 

 

Cleaning Gutters

When you begin removing debris from your gutters, you should think ahead. Always start the gutter cleaning process at the corner of your home, near a downspout. Work your way away from the spout to reduce the possibility of clogging the spout as you work. After removing the larger debris from your gutters, you will need a hose and a sprayer. Use the sprayer to remove small debris from the gutters. Spray the gutters until there are no more signs of debris. If your downspout is clogged, try spraying the hose directly into the downspout. If this does not work you may need to use a plumbers snake to loosen the clog.