wave home solutions presents: 10 ways to prepare your home for the winter

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WAVE Home Solutions 10 Ways To Prepare Your Home For Winter

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Page 1: WAVE Home Solutions presents: 10 Ways To Prepare Your Home For The Winter

WAVE Home Solutions

10 Ways To Prepare Your Home For Winter

Page 2: WAVE Home Solutions presents: 10 Ways To Prepare Your Home For The Winter

Check Your Heating System

❖ For less than $100, you can hire a NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certified technician to come and inspect your furnace or heat pump. They will make sure the system is in good working order, clean, and performing at manufacturer-rated efficiency.

Page 3: WAVE Home Solutions presents: 10 Ways To Prepare Your Home For The Winter

Reverse Ceiling Fans

❖ This tip is really cool and can save you a lot of money! If your ceiling fans have a reverse switch, set your fans on reverse during the winter months. This will create an updraft that will push the hot air (that rises) down and may make your house feel warmer than it would without the fan, saving you a lot on your heating bill!

Page 4: WAVE Home Solutions presents: 10 Ways To Prepare Your Home For The Winter

Stop Ice Dams

❖ Did you know that the stretches of icicles along your gutters are actually called ice dams? And did you know that those dams indicate that there are air leaks and faulty insulation in your home’s attic? If you have these, call a home-energy auditor or weatherization contractor to see if you infact have these leaks or insulation issues. Get them fixed before December 31st and you can claim the federal energy-efficiency tax credit.

Page 5: WAVE Home Solutions presents: 10 Ways To Prepare Your Home For The Winter

Check The Roof

❖ Go about this carefully or get a professional to do it but if you are missing any shingles or even if they are just loose, have them fixed. This can prevent your roof from leaking during storms and melting snow.

Page 6: WAVE Home Solutions presents: 10 Ways To Prepare Your Home For The Winter

Gut Those Gutters

❖ While you’re up there checking your shingles, go ahead and empty out your gutters. Clogged gutters can cause so many problems and they are one of the easiest fixes. You can hire someone to do it for you or carefully do it yourself. It’s worth it. Cleaning gutters prevents damage to your roof, siding, wood trim, as well as leaks and ice damage.

Page 7: WAVE Home Solutions presents: 10 Ways To Prepare Your Home For The Winter

Redirect Water

❖ For as low as $9, you can buy a spout extension that diverts water from your downspouts 3 to 4 feet away from the foundation of your house.

Page 8: WAVE Home Solutions presents: 10 Ways To Prepare Your Home For The Winter

Shut Off Outdoor Faucets

❖ Failing to do this can leave undrained water in your pipes which will freeze, expand, and cause your pipes to burst during the winter, causing more problems for you when Spring rolls around. If your house is more than 10-15 years old, your pipes are most likely not frost-proof, and you will need to turn off the shut-off valve inside your home.

Page 9: WAVE Home Solutions presents: 10 Ways To Prepare Your Home For The Winter

Mulch Leaves - Nourish Your Lawn

❖ You can actually nourish your lawn during the winter by mulching your leaves in the fall. By not attaching the bag to your lawn mower and swapping out the cutting blade for the mulching blade, the leaves spread out over your grass. When the winter rolls around, the leaves decompose and nourish your lawn.

Page 10: WAVE Home Solutions presents: 10 Ways To Prepare Your Home For The Winter

Sump Pump Test

❖ You should test your sump pump every few months but especially right before winter. For most pumps, you can do this by pouring a few gallons of water into the sump to see if it turns on. It if doesn’t, you’ll want to get it fixed as soon as possible.

Page 11: WAVE Home Solutions presents: 10 Ways To Prepare Your Home For The Winter

Prune Trees and Shrubs LATE WINTER

❖ This one you should save for the end of winter. Horticulturalists actually recommend that you wait until the end of winter, just before spring, to prune your foliage so you do not cut off any living part of the plant too soon.