As winter approaches many homeowners turn their attention to winterizing the home to combat the effects of cold weather and minimize the headaches associated with winter mishaps.  Knowing what needs to be done and how to accomplish it is vital to anyone living in a cold area, like Ohio. Follow these easy-to-accomplish tips to winterize your home for winter.

Clean the Gutters

It may not seem important now, but clean gutters are a must to prevent ice dams and icicles later on. Take the time now to remove old leaves and other debris from your gutters so water can flow freely.

Seal Windows and Doors

Leaky windows and doors are a major source of heat loss in the winter. Installing storm windows and doors can make a big boost to your family's comfort and save on energy costs, too. But if that is not in your budget, there are inexpensive ways to cut down on heat loss around your existing windows and doors. 

• Use weather stripping around loose windows and doors to seal areas where heat can escape or cold air can find its way inside. You can find weather stripping in the hardware store and install it in an afternoon. 
• Caulk cracks around window frames or loose window panes. 
• Install plastic over the windows. Plastic can be applied on either the outside or inside and creates an insulating barrier between you and the cold.

Insulate Basements, Attics and Crawl Spaces

Use fiberglass insulation to seal drafty areas around basement doors, crawl spaces and attic windows. Check that your attic floor is insulated too. You can also tuck fiberglass insulation into cracks around the AC, into crevices along the foundation and around pipes that go through the basement walls.

Insulate Your Plumbing

Frozen and burst pipes can spell disaster in the middle of the winter. Not only will your family be without water, but you will also likely have an expensive mess to clean up and face the added cost of emergency plumbing services, too. Insulate all pipes (both hot and cold) that travel through unheated areas, such as basements and crawlspaces. Make sure the point where the water pipes enter your home is well insulated too. The point of entry is a common area where pipes freeze.

Prepare for Heating Season

Heating season means it's time to check your ductwork for leaks, replace furnace filters and make that call for your yearly maintenance on the HVAC system. It is also time to reverse those ceiling fans, so they will work to circulate warm air. Remember, your ceiling fans should run in the clockwise direction during the winter to pull warm air up and disperse it throughout the room. Set your ceiling fan on the slowest speed. The object is to create a gentle flow of air that evens out the temperature in the room.

Get ahead of the game and contact Amanda Plumbing Sewer & Drain to arrange for a regular maintenance call or to give you a hand with winterizing your plumbing. Don't forget to check out our blog for more helpful tips for caring for your home.