Heating/Insulation/Ventilation Pre-Winter Checklist

November 9, 2010

Central Heating
Make sure all air vents are free of obstructions.
Adjust your vents by opening those near the floor and closing those near the ceiling for better air circulation during the winter months.
Test your furance before the weather gets very cold.
Consider having your heating system checked by a professional.
Have your humidifier cleaned and checked.
Replace your furnace filters regularly.
Insulation
Make sure crawl space is insulated.
Consider insulating your basement walls.
If at all possible, make sure walls are insulated to R11.
Insulate any pipes and heating ducts that run through cold, unheated crawl space or attics.
If your house was built before 1950, it may be an excellent candidate for cost-saving blown-in wall insulation.
Attic Ventilation
Make sure attic insulation doesn’t cover ventilation vents in the eaves (also called soffits or overhangs). This helps prevent winter ice dams.
Make sure ridge vent and vents at eaves are free of plants and debris.
Make sure bird and rodent screens for attic vents are in good shape.