Winter weather in the Northwest is sloppy and cold. Along with the City of Seattle and King County, we’d like to urge you to take a few simple steps to safeguard your home and family from the elements AND save some money while you’re at it!
- Clear leaves and debris from drains and gutters on and around your home. Leaf buildup can cause damaging flood that come out of nowhere causing expensive damage. Don’t forget to check window wells, sliding door tracks, and downspouts.
- Ensure water drains away from your home. How far is far enough depends on several factors, but a good rule of thumb is to create a slope that carries the water downhill away from your home for at least three feet.
- Protect water pipes and faucets from freezing in exposed or unheated areas by wrapping them with tape and/or insulation.
- Check the insulation in attics crawl, spaces, or anywhere else that your home is vulnerable to the weather. Improper insulation can let the cold in and take your heating costs through the roof – literally!
- Caulk windows and install weather-stripping on doors … the tubular rubber kind with aluminum or wood backing is best bang for your buck.
- Programmable thermostats are much more accurate and allow you to heat your home when you’re in it and not when you’re not (without having to remember to turn it down as you madly dash out the door). Keep it at 68 degrees or lower when your home and between 60-62 degrees when you’re gone… lower than that and you can start to create mold issues.
- Visit the Take Winter By Storm website for more info on making your home safer and more efficient during these stormy months and Seattle City Light for some quick tips and to find out more about community conservation programs in Seattle.
Many of our Seattle clients have been taking advantage of City Light’s rebate on energy audits. Let us know if you would like more information about energy audits or a referral for an auditor.