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Lowes winter season guide for homeowners: Here's what they
recommend:
Attic/crawlspace -- As a general rule, if a home
has less than 11 to 12 inches of insulation in the attic or crawlspace, it could
probably use more. Use batt or blown insulation for best results. Check with a
Lowe's expert to determine the proper R-value of insulation for your
home.
Water heater and hot water pipes -- Conserve heat and energy
by swaddling your water heater with an insulation blanket kit or faced
fiberglass insulation. Insulate hot water pipes with preformed foam pipe
insulation sleeves if they pass through an unheated area or run under your
home.
Seal leaks, cracks, openings in the home
Windows --
Remove screens and install storm windows.
Fireplace -- Make sure
the damper closes as tightly as possible when a fire is not burning to minimize
heat loss.
Draft-prone areas -- Zip up your home's winter coat by
caulking, sealing and weatherstripping around all seams, cracks and openings.
Pay special attention around windows and where siding or bricks and wood trim
meet. Seal areas near electrical boxes and plumbing penetrations as
well.
Ductwork -- Look for cracks or air leaks in ductwork and use
duct tape to seal them.
Improve indoor air quality
Furnace
filters -- Change forced air heating system air filters monthly. Make a
clean break into winter with a fresh filter instead of using last year's used
goods.
Air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators -- Regularly
dusting off these heat sources will improve the energy efficiency of your
home.
Ceiling fans -- To save energy during colder weather,
activate the reverse setting on your ceiling fans to circulate hot air that
rises to the ceiling and blow it back down.
Maintain your lawn and
garden
Cool-season grasses -- Fertilize grasses such as ryegrass,
fescue, and bluegrass in or before early November.
Bulbs -- Plant
hardy bulbs in milder climates in the earlier part of
November.
Vegetable and perennial beds -- Clean and prepare beds
for next season's planting.
Leaves -- Rake and remove leaves left
on the lawn to discourage disease.
Push mower, outdoor power equipment
-- Perform annual maintenance before storing.
Lawn and garden
equipment, patio furniture -- Store to avoid harsh winter
elements.
Hoses, outdoor faucets and sprinkler systems -- Drain
before season's first freeze.
Bird feeders -- Regularly clean and
refill feeders for winter's feathered friends.
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