KATHY'S HOME & GARDEN BLOG - IT'S TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE WINTER COLD
ARE YOU READY FOR WINTER?
Check for leaks around doors and windows using a candle. If the flame flickers wildly, or worse, blows out, you have a heat loss problem. You can help prevent this with a few inexpensive solutions from your favorite home center. Stick on weather stripping is easy to affix to a window or door. You can replace the thresholds under the door. They have rubber inserts that will seal the door when it is closed. Caulking around a window's interior frame can also be useful. Use silicone caulk, its shrinkage is minimal. They also make draft stopping gaskets that fit behind light switch plates and electrical sockets.
We assume there is insulation in your attic, but we don't often think of the basement. The basement is the coldest part of the house and putting insulation between the floor joists keeps cold air from seeping into the rest of the house. If you complete the insulation before the end of the year, there is a federal tax credit for a maximum of $500 up to 10% of the cost.
GOT A SPECIAL TECHNIQUE YOU USE FOR WINTER PREVENTION? Let me know.
DEAN'S TEAM HOME & GARDEN EDITOR,
KATHLEEN WEAVER ZECH
