Prepare Your Home for Winter

Winter in Little Rock can bring cold temperatures, ice, and even some snow. Is your home ready?

There are a variety of steps you can take to help winterize your property. These tips can help you save money on heating bills, keep your home secure, keep you comfortable, and keep everything running smoothly if there’s an especially bad storm.

From better insulation to a standby generator, here’s what you need to know!

Block Drafts

There’s nothing worse than trying to stay cozy only to feel a cold breeze coming from a door or window. Fortunately, stopping drafts isn’t overly difficult.

You can use weather-stripping around doors and windows, and you can ask a local company to help you assess your home insulation. Having additional insulation in the attic and crawlspaces can make a big difference in how you feel this winter.

Also, close the damper on the chimney when you’re not using it, and put in a door sweep at the base of your external door.

With everything sealed up, you’ll be much cozier – even if the power goes out and you need a generator!

Have Your HVAC Serviced

Making sure that your heating system is in good shape is essential. You want to make sure your furnace doesn’t need to be repaired or replaced, and you want to seal furnace ducts to avoid leaks.

Once your furnace and HVAC systems are in great working order, you can have confidence that your home power – or your standby generator if needed – will be able to provide you with the heat you need during the cold season.

Sealing ducts will also help avoid carbon monoxide buildup in your home and can reduce combustion risks. Be sure to use mastic tape, not duct tape. Despite the name, duct tape doesn’t work as well because it’s less durable.

Get Your Standby Generator Ready for Winter

A standby generator is a backup electrical system that will start up automatically if the utility fails. Once power is restored, the generator stops until it is needed again.

Having a standby generator is much more convenient than a portable generator. First of all, you don’t have to find it, fire it up, and get it connected when the power is out. Secondly, you don’t have to worry about setting it up outside and find a way to run power cords in. Finally, you can run your whole home with a standby, while a portable can only run a few items at a time.

Before the weather gets bad, make sure you have your generator serviced. Just like the other essential systems in your home, you want to ensure it’s working before there’s a problem where you need it!

You’ll want to check fuel levels and make sure you have extra fuel if needed. A preventative maintenance agreement from Northside Power can go an extra step and provide you with 24/7 monitoring. The peace of mind is well worth it.

Be Ready for Cold Weather

Are you ready for winter? These tips can go a long way toward helping this season be safe and comfortable for you and your family.

If you don’t currently have a standby generator, now is the time to get it set up. Contact us for more information today!