As summer draws to a close, there are two things I think of. First: Where did the summer go? Then second: Is my house ready for the cold months to come?
As a ritual, our family likes to go through a little checklist every year to get us ready for winter. Here a few tips from our family's checklist...
1. Weatherstripping and caulking: They both can be purchased at a hardware store and are pretty cheap. Not only can it help trap in the heat (instead of heating up the whole neighborhood - as my mother would say) but it keeps out those bugs that want to stay warm. We usually walk around the entire house and inspect all the window and doors very carefully.
Kid Tip: To make it interesting, make it a game! Windows are 5 points, doors are 10 points and anything else is 15 points. The players with the most points wins cash or 30 minutes past curfew or something worth their while!
2. Relieve yourself of clutter: Nothing is more cleansing than getting rid of junk. During the summer, my family and I are on the go constantly and for some reason, we end up with tons of stuff - usually that we don't really need. For one weekend (we try to plan it around rainy or extremely cold weather) we comb the entire house for things that we don't need, things we've outgrown and things we have no idea where they came from. Usually, by Sunday, we can fill up the garage by clothes and furniture and other things that we just don't use. It's usually an instant relief knowing that we have de-cluttered our lives.
Money Tip: Take all that junk and have a garage sale! We usually have a garage sale and put that money aside to help purchase Christmas presents!
3. Insulation: Just like checking for cracks and opening, having the proper insulation will help make your house warmer and you won't be "heating up the neighborhood." Let's be honest, I don't know anyone in Jacksonville that thinks our winters are mild. Jacksonville winters are cold. Period. Properly insulating your home can really make a difference on your families warmth and your heating bill!
4. Clean your fireplace: There is nothing worse than sitting by the fire, getting cozy, toasting some marshmallows then having plumes of smoke come right back out into your home. It's stinky and it stains your walls! We typically burn a cleaning block before every winter. It helps clean out any gunk that has built up from last winter. But the best solution would be to call a professional chimney sweep. There are many here in Jacksonville that can get the job done for you at reasonable prices.
5. Check the heater: Run it once or twice before it gets really cold. Not only can you run the heater with the windows open (and let that stinky, stale smell leave the house) but this will give you the opportunity to make sure that it's functioning properly. It's also a good idea to call a heating and air conditioning company that you trust. They will come out to your house and thoroughly inspect your system to ensure you won't have any issues in the bitterly cold months.
Hopefully you and your family have a similar or better checklist you run through before the winter months. If you have any tips or suggestions, please feel free to comment or send us an email.
Happy winterizing everyone!
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