J&R Construction February Blog 2021 
There are a variety of things that we can do to show “love” and take better care of the interior and exterior parts of our home during the chilly winter months. If you’re looking for new ways to keep your home safe, warm, and cozy this winter, here are a few tips that J&R would like to give you, to take for present and future winter seasons.
Have your heating system inspected by a licensed professional. Do this to make sure that everything is running smoothly. The last thing that you want is for your heat to go out in the middle of a cold winter night!
In addition to this, you can also have your roofing and gutter inspected, to help prevent ice from building up and potentially damaging any exterior areas of your home.
Check and change the filters of your home, and vacuum and clean out all of your vents. Do this to avoid any debris buildup, and to keep the air that is circulating throughout the house, clean and fresh. Dust and debris is likely to build up during the winter months, so it is important to check and clean the filters to avoid any extra particles flying throughout your home.
Keep your furnace running to protect your pipes from freezing. This is also to ensure that your home stays warm and insulated at all times. If you plan to leave for a winter vacation, set your temperature to at least 55 degrees or higher, to help keep the interior of the floor and wall cavities above freezing temperatures (since this is most likely the location of your water piping). It is also helpful to keep doors open throughout the house, to help heat circulate and warm all areas of every room. Often, drafts occur when doors shut on their own, and trap heat in individual areas.
Cover any outdoor seating. This is so that you can avoid potential damage, and increase the lifetime of your furniture! No need to buy any fancy furniture covers. All that you need are large plastic bags, or a roll of Partex Plastic and something (such as string or rubber bands) to tie and seal the bags to the furniture. If you are worried about any metallic items rusting or creating discoloration, cover them with some type of Vaseline or petroleum jelly to avoid this.
Seal any areas that might be letting in a draft. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a well-sealed home can be up to 20 percent more energy efficient. Most drafts usually sneak in from your basement or attic. For small leaks, you can use a caulking gun or foaming insulation to keep cold air from coming in. For larger drafts, such as underneath your doorways, something as simple as a towel, blanket, or draftstopper can seal the crack and prevent a drafty room.
Do you have a fireplace in your home? Are you wondering how to clean it and remove any unwanted soot or build up? Mix a can of coca cola with 3.5 fluid ounces of all purpose household cleaner, and 3.5 quarts of water in a bucket. Scrub it only any sooty bricks with a sponge, and leave it to sit for 15 minutes. After it sits for that time, scrub it with a bristle brush, and sponge it down again with clean water. The more cola that you add, the stronger the solution will be. Try this trick out, and avoid spending too much money on getting your fireplace cleaned this winter!
