You can winterize your home with these tips
BLAINE, Minn. — With freezing temperatures around the corner, experts say now is the time to start preparing your home for winter.
"One of the things we recommend for homeowners is to actually test their system before it gets into freezing temperatures," Standard Heating and Air Conditioning Service Technician Nate Stoll said.
Stoll said as soon as temperatures freeze, the calls for service go up as people encounter issues with their furnaces.
"Maybe a whistling coming from a motor, grinding, sometimes even a smell," Stoll said.
Before calling a professional, he said there are things homeowners can do first. Furnace filters should be checked and replaced often depending on the width of the filter.
"Every inch of width we have is about how many months we want to go without checking our filter," Stoll said.
Stoll says to check for critters inside air ducts and to make sure leaves are not blocking the vents or downspouts, which could lead to ice buildup.
"We want to make sure your drain lines are hooked up… We want to make sure it is running to a floor drain that is working," he said.
Other tips to get ready for the cold include cleaning gutters, inspecting roofs, attics and chimneys, sealing windows and doors and protecting pipes.
"As homeowners, you can reverse your ceiling fans so it's actually pulling that hot air from the ceiling and moving it back down to the floor for you," Stoll said. "It's nice to take care of some of these things before they get more urgent for you."
