When it comes to getting ready for winter, little things really do mean a lot. Cross these easy tasks off your to-do list to make your home more comfy and cozy for the months ahead.
Get ACs Ready for Winter
As the weather gets cooler, your air conditioner may be the last thing on your mind. But taking some time to shut your AC system down for winter can extend the life of your cooling unit and make sure it’s ready to cool your home when warm temperatures return. Check out our step-by-step guide to getting window units and central air systems winter-ready, and learn why Frost King’s air conditioner covers are a must-have for protecting ACs from ice, snow, and frigid temperatures.
Shut Off Exterior Faucets and Store Hoses for the Winter
Trust us when we tell you that this is one 10-minute chore you don’t want to neglect: draining and shutting off exterior faucets can save pipes from bursting and flooding your home with water. Check out our blog post on how to winterize outdoor faucets and install a Frost King Faucet Protector to give your pipes an extra layer of protection. After winterizing faucets, you should also drain and store hoses and sprinklers in a shed or garage so they don’t freeze and break.
Have Your Fireplace Cleaned and Order Firewood
If cuddling up in front of a roaring fire is one of your favorite things to do in the winter, better make sure your fireplace is ready to take the heat. The National Fire Protection Association says chimneys and fireplaces should be cleaned and inspected once a year to make sure they are structurally safe to use and free of dangerous creosote or soot, which can cause a chimney fire. If you plan on having numerous fires throughout the winter, place an order for firewood and stack it neatly in the yard. You should only burn seasoned hardwoods like oak, maple and birch. Don’t use unseasoned wood or soft woods like cedar and pine, which produce creosote as they burn.
Vacuum Radiators or Heating Vents and Install Heat Deflectors
Before you turn on your heating system, go through the house and vacuum all the radiators and radiator covers, baseboard heaters, or heating vents to get rid of dust, pet hair and dander, spider webs and other debris. If you have heating vents, now is the time to install Frost King Heat/Air Deflectors, which will make air distribution more efficient and your rooms more comfortable: point the curved deflector down so it directs warm air into the room. (In the summer, point them up so cooled air heads towards the ceiling instead of sinking to the floor.)
Seal Air Leaks
What if an afternoon’s work could save you up to 10% off your energy bills this winter? Adding caulk or weatherstripping to gaps around windows, door frames, and outlets and between baseboards cuts down on air leaks, drafts and wasted energy—and that can pay off big time on your monthly heating costs. Depending on the size and location of the leak, you can use one of our weatherstripping products to seal the gap or, for larger openings, you can use Caulk Saver to fill the hole and then top with caulk. Watch this video to decide which product is the right one for your project:
If leaky windows are your problem—and you’re a renter or replacement windows are not in the budget—installing Frost King Window Kits can block cold air from streaming into your home all winter long. To install our kits, all you need are a pair of scissors and a hair dryer. Watch this video to see how easily it’s done:
