A Positively Moving Experience
Winter Proof your home
The recent polar vortex, which has brought crippling sub-zero temperatures to the USA this week, has been deemed severe to life-threatening. Winter has our moving vehicles often traveling on icy conduits-like roadways, with plowed or unplowed snow that decreases highway space and impedes arrival times. We know these winter road conditions well and prepare for them. As for your home, these wintry conditions need to be met with preparation on your end. Once we get your belongings to your new home, be prepared for the cold and the adjustments you may need to make to ensure your warmth while the temperature drops. Here are some tips on winter proof your home.
Caulking Gun
Many people know about caulking but do it incorrectly. There are several caulking guidelines that people forget when setting out to seal their home and keep the heat in. Here are a few caulking tips we’ve managed to think up:
- Choose a 100% Silicon caulking material. Why? Because silicon lasts much longer than acrylic as acrylic shrinks, cracks and is less waterproof over time. If you’re setting out to seal your home, make certain your time is an investment not a waste.
- Before you begin caulking, examine the lesser thought of places that may be letting in the cold air. People apply caulk to windows, doors, and floors, but check the basement, the attic and possible crawl spaces as these sometimes leak the most.
- If there is caulk, remove it before you begin a new caulking project. Old caulk can harbor bacteria, dirt and germs, start new by using a razor blade or a knife and cleaning the surface before you begin.
- When your caulk is set, understand that it may need to rest for up to 24 hours before it can be exposed to the elements in which it’s trying to prevent access. Finally, be certain you’ve smoothed the caulking beads you’ve created. This goes beyond the aesthetic effect, if not smoothed, it may hinder windows and doors from opening.
Furnace Inspection
The furnace may be your only source and access to heat. If there is one important thing to check out in your new home, it’s just that, the furnace. Do these things to prevent under- heating your spaces and over paying for the appliance.
- Contact a professional who can diagnosis the working components, i.e. the blower, fans, and belts. Inquire as to if there was any oil build-up and how clean the machine was, and when it was likely last inspected.
- Inquire into a manual electric furnace system. The price isn’t too expensive for installation and can be programmed to your existing furnace to suit your needs.
Ready your Chimney
If you’ve got a fireplace and you appreciate the slow burning seasoned wood you’ve recently hauled or purchased, you might want to hire a chimney sweep to check for creosote build-up. If the chimney inspection goes well, make certain you’re equipped for these things too.
- Before you start any house-warming fires see to it that your firebox and ash container are clean.
- The grate that prevents logs of wood from falling and tumbling out of the firebox should be installed; and, the hearth should be cleaned of any objects which could ignite if spat with fire. In the scenario that the hearth doesn’t extend too far, think about placing a fireproof mat beyond the hearth for added protection to carpeting.
- Always keep an eye on the fire. Never leave a fire burning at home. This may go without saying, but forgetting is can be devastating.
Little tricks to stay warm
More often than not, there are those things you don’t expect which might help out when the temperature dips. Sometimes thinking backwards is thinking forwards. Give these a try.
- Reverse your fan on low. Most fans work in the opposite direction. Since heat rises, reverse the fan to send warmer air towards the floor of the room and away from the ceiling.
- Bake a pie, make cookies, roast some meat, cook a casserole. No question your oven provides heat to the kitchen space. The heat may travel only a little ways outside the kitchen, while the scent of your cooking endeavor goes throughout the house, but it’s worth it if you cook like Jacques Pépin.
- 80% of body heat is released through the head. Put a beanie on, pull over a hood, but a blanket over your noggin. It may sound a little silly because you’re indoors, but it does work.
- Clean the house. Exercising promotes blood circulation and body heat. The more moving around the better. It’s a progressive way to stay warm. If not that, do some abs. We all have that kind of work to do.
When winter sets in, keep refreshed on these common but useful suggestions. This polar vortex is frigid, and we are definitely not coated like the polar bear to embrace such extreme temperatures. Without further ado, keep warm and enjoy the hot cider. Cheers.
