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The air is getting nippy here in the New Jersey and New York Metro area, so now is a great time to have a conversation about getting your home’s windows ready for winter. Preparing your home for winter is essential in any climate where the temperature may fall below freezing. The local old-timers are saying this year may be a really “hard” one so, here’s a few suggestions for getting your home ready for the cold weather from the team at Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey & New York Metro.
1. Inspect and clean the fireplace. If you haven’t had your fireplace professionally swept recently, this is a good time to get the job scheduled. Check the cap for damage. Small animals may fall or climb into the chimney if your cap is missing or askew.
2. Check your furnace or heater. Many of our customers have already scheduled a maintenance check of their system already, but if you have been putting it off, you should turn the system on and make sure everything is working properly. A clean, well-tuned system is less expensive to operate and you won’t have to worry about finding a contractor to come out in the middle of the night when the first winter storm roll in.
3. Reverse ceiling fans. The winterizing routine is a great time of year to reverse the ceiling fan direction in your home. This really works in rooms with high ceilings. Hot air rises, so reversing the fan can push warmer air down where you are and make you feel warmer without raising the thermostat. Clockwise circulation pushes warm air downward and encourages recirculation. Makes sure to put it on the slowest setting possible. Some people still find that the air movement makes it feel cooler in smaller rooms, so check yours and see how you feel.
4. Clean the gutters. Check your gutters and downspouts for cracks, missing pins and other damage. Remove leaves and other debris that may prevent proper drainage. Water collecting in clogged drains may freeze during a winter rain and damage your gutters. Worse yet, it can cause a phenomenon known as ice damming where water freezes at the eaves and pushes water back up under your shingles, where it leaks into your attic and through your ceilings, ruining your wallboard and creating a perfect environment for mold growth.
5. Test smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors. Replace batteries if it has been more than six months since the last time you replaced them.
6. Replace torn or missing weather stripping around doors and windows. Minor issues, like torn weather stripping, can be replaced when your windows are in otherwise excellent condition, but if you find major damage like sagging frames or gap that will allow cold air to flow freely into your home, consider upgrading with Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey and New York Metro replacement windows.
7. Restock emergency supplies. Get the snow blower out, gassed up and tuned and pick up a bag of sand or ice-melt. Replace flashlight batteries. If you have a generator, make sure you have fuel on hand just in case a winter storm knocks out the power for more than a couple of hours.
Winterizing your home means you repair or replace damaged gutters, windows, doors and install new batteries in your detection systems to keep your family safe and comfortable during the cold weather season. As we mentioned above, minor window issues like weather stripping or chipped caulk around the glazing can be easily fixed. But, if you find large cracks or holes in your window panes, you need to replace them before the really cold weather arrives. Updating your patio doors and windows is advisable if you find any significant gaps or sagging frames. Single-pane windows, even those that don’t appear to have major damage, make it more expensive for you to heat your home than ENERGY STAR labeled double-pane windows. Replacing single-paned windows with double-paned windows could save you several hundred dollars a year on your heating and cooling bills, depending on the overall condition of your home and your outdoor environment. And, you may have problems with condensation buildup that can damage your wood framing. If you have cold, drafty spots in your home, your windows and doors probably aren’t functioning properly. A thorough inspection will help you find the source of your problems.
Winterizing your home for cold weather can help ensure you are prepared for dropping temperatures and winter storms. Upgrading your home with high-performance, energy efficient replacement windows and patio doors can help you save money this heating season and for many seasons to come. We’re expecting a hard winter in the area this year. Are you ready?
Give your Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey and New York Metro design consultant a call at 866-609-5033 to schedule a no-obligation home inspection to see if you can benefit from installing replacement window this year. You can also fill in the short form on this page to request more information about our full line of beautiful, custom-crafted windows and patio doors.