Nailing It Down

By Dave Murnen and Pat Beaty

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) has predicted this winter will be a bit colder and wetter than usual in the Pacific Northwest. So you may just want to take one of these pretty, sunshiny days to get your home ready for the cold.

Of course, predicting the weather is a tricky business, and we’re not sure what’s in store for the next few weeks and months. However, why not make yourself more comfortable and your house tighter in case the predictions are accurate?

Close foundation vents in severe cold

During a real cold snap, we recommend closing your foundation vents as long as the temperature remains below freezing.

You may be surprised to hear that, because we are so big on making sure your house is adequately ventilated. However, closing those vents for a short time will both keep the house more comfortable and save on your heating bill.

But do write yourself a note to open them up again when the weather gets a bit warmer!

Time to insulate pipes

Insulating pipes is fairly inexpensive and can help you save money in energy costs. The “insulation” doesn’t have to be fancy. Remove all hoses and drain them. Then wrap your outside faucets in an old T-shirt or towel. Even newspaper covered with plastic bags and rubber bands will work.

Another trick you can use to prevent pipes from freezing during a true cold snap is to leave both hot and cold water dripping in one sink — preferably the one farthest from the hot water tank. This will help circulate the entire water system. Yes, this may cost a little money in water and energy losses, but it will be a lot cheaper than replacing broken pipes and fixing the water damage.

Keeping the heat in

One of the biggest ways to stay warm during the winter months is to make sure your house is properly “weatherized.”

Weatherizing, generally, means to properly weather-strip, insulate and air seal for the purpose of keeping your house comfortable with the least amount of influence from the outside temperature. Properly installed weatherization measures can stop both cold air from getting into the home and heated air from escaping.

If your house needs to be insulated, make a plan to do that soon.

However, if you want to do something today to help you feel warmer, first add layers of clothing, then bring in or shelter your animals. Then check for open windows and drafts coming in under doors. A $10 (or less) draft stopper at the edge of your outside door can make a world of difference.

Also, if you’re not using the fireplace, don’t forget to close the flue — after checking for warm ashes and live embers.

Beware of alternative heating methods

When it’s cold, people often use alternative means to help heat their homes. Please be extremely careful when doing this. Using some alternative sources of heat can be very dangerous.

For instance, never use an open oven or a stove to heat a room. And especially never use a grill or barbecue inside a structure. You would risk fire and carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal.

Also, be cautious when plugging in electric heaters; they draw a lot of power, and you could easily overwhelm an extension cord or blow a circuit.

The best plan is to have a plan. Do you have a backup source of heat if the electrical power goes out? If not, what is your plan to stay warm? We all think clearer when we aren’t freezing cold and shaking, so think through your options now in case you need one in the months to come.

Next week, we will again talk about the local ductless heat pump program, which allows property owners to replace those expensive-to-operate baseboard heaters and inefficient electric furnaces.

Dave Murnen and Pat Beaty are construction specialists at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor County, where Murnen is executive director. This is a nonprofit organization committed to creating safe and affordable housing opportunities for all residents of Grays Harbor County. For questions about the ductless heat pump program or home repair, housing counseling for renters and landlords, home-buyer education and buying, call 360-533-7828, listen to the extension picks that will best help you and leave a callback name and number. Due to COVID-19, our office is not currently open for a visit, but we will call you back.