December 13, 2018
Realtor Series: Winterize your Home
Tips to Winterize your Prescott Home
By Sheila Mengarelli, realtor at Kathleen Yamauchi group
As part of our ongoing Realtor Tips series, we asked one of our expert realtors, Sheila Mengarelli, to share some tips about living in Prescott. She lives right around the corner from Talking Rock.
Keep your family snug and warm while saving on energy bills during the winter months by following the winterizing tips below. Prescott experiences freezing temperatures from November through March, so be prepared. With a forecast of a wetter-than-normal winter predicted, these tips will help protect your home from damage that can lead to costly repairs.
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- Service your Furnace – Have your furnace serviced fall and spring by a local HVAC company to keep you high and dry.
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- Change the filters — Don’t forget to change the filter in your furnace. When you put the first furnace filter of the season in, don’t forget to set your digital calendar to remind you to replace it at monthly intervals throughout the cold season.
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- Inspect your Gutters – Clogged gutters can cause water that is blocked to freeze and seep into your home. Take the time to clean them out and make sure that your downspouts are carrying the water away and not toward your house.
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- Repair drafts – Electrical outlets, door frames, windows, and recessed lighting areas typically tend to be drafty. Sealing up these areas can save on your energy bill. Simply use a wet hand, or incense, to move over the areas to spot potential leaks.
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- Check your insulation – Attics require 12 inches of insulation. Moisture problems can occur if your insulation has backing paper, so take the time to do an inspection.
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- Check for any exposed pipes outside – Pipes must be insulated from the cold too. Not only does it keep the pipes from freezing, it will prevent condensation from freezing on them, helping to save on energy bills. Make sure any drip systems are drained and water spickets are off.
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- Vacation — Will you be away for an extended period of time? Never turn your furnace off. Set it at 50 degrees. This will keep your home at a steady temperature no matter what the weather brings. It’s also a good idea to set your water heater to vacation or away mode
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- Check your smoke alarm – While you are inspecting so many other aspects of your home, don’t forget to make sure that your smoke alarms are all functioning, and replace the batteries as needed. Also, make sure that you have a functioning fire extinguisher as well.
If you love Prescott, but like your independence, visit Talking Rock talkingrockaz.com. Thirty minutes from downtown Prescott, this private, guard-gated master-planned community offers a variety of home sites and new customized homes, whether you want to live on the golf course or adjacent to Arizona State Trust Land. Home sites are ½ to 10-acres in size, and ready-to-move-in homes are also available.