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Pennywise: Get the house ready for winter before it gets cold

By Paula Vogelgesang
Friday, November 7, 2008 8:39 AM CST

We had a lot of folks send us some really good hints about getting a house ready for winter, before it gets cold.

One gentleman said that when you check gutters and downspouts, you need to make sure that water goes at least 10 feet away from the foundation to prevent flooding in the crawl space or basement. Most people think of spring rains, but sometimes we have a January thaw that puts a lot of water into dams and ditches.

Check the depth of the insulation in your attic. Even a fairly new home may not have enough to keep the heat you pay dearly for inside. Many homes have only 6-8 inches of insulation in the top-most part of the house and the minimum amount recommended is 12 inches. If you get up in the crawl space and see ceiling joists, you don't have enough. Most joists are made from 10-inch lumber.

Get your furnace inspected by a reputable professional, and yes, it will cost you some money. The inspector will make sure the thermostat and pilot light are working properly and check for cracks in lines that could let carbon monoxide escape into your home.

In fact, it's a good idea to have a carbon monoxide monitor installed close by the furnace and hot water heater. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. A furnace inspection is a whole lot cheaper than a funeral.