With
cold weather comes high utility bills and the potential for costly damage to
your home due to weather-related events. Each year we find a good number of
emergency calls we receive could have been prevented with some basic home
maintenance. A house that is not properly winterized will consume more energy
and cost more money.
Thankfully,
The Basement Doctor has the prescription to keep money in your pockets, and can
offer helpful and easy advice for protecting your house this winter. Below you
will find The Basement Doctor’s “Top 5 Tips” for winterizing your home.
1.
Keep
outlet at the street free of ice and snow.
The No. 1 reason a basement floods in the winter is due to
frozen or clogged sump pump discharge lines. When plows push the snow against
the outlet lines on the road, the water in this line that is coming from your
gutters and sump pump has nowhere to go but back into your basement. This
eventually floods the sump pump basin and ultimately you basement. A wooden
stake at your curb to mark where your sump pump discharge line is located will
help you find it when your curb is full of ice and snow.
2. Ensure gutters are clear to help prevent ice damming.
Ice dams are a buildup of ice that forms over leaves and
gutters, and they are caused by snow melting on the roof. Once an ice dam has
formed, it will continue to trap melted snow above that will then back up into
the shingles and leak into your home. This causes wood rot, wet insulation and drywall deterioration,
structural damage, and dangerous mold and mildew. Ice dams on a home are a sure
indicator of air leaks, a warm rooftop and low insulation.
3. Seal
leaks and cracks to save money.
Look for air leaks around windows, doors, electrical
outlets, pipes, and receptacles on exterior walls. We recommend closed cell
spray foam as a replacement to fiberglass insulation.
4. Try to
maintain constant indoor temperature
Do not turn the thermostat up and down to help reduce energy
consumption and keep relative humidity at acceptable levels. The newer
programmable models allow homeowners to set a lower temperature while away or
asleep and raise the temperature when needed.
5. Make sure
you have the proper insulation in the attic.
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R49-R60 blown in insulation in the attic is specific to the
Ohio region. This is approximately 15.5 to 19 inches of insulation.
A free energy exam from The Basement Doctor can help you determine if your house has the
proper amount of insulation and can uncover your home's top energy offenders.
