New England winters can be harsh, not only on you and your family, but on your home as well.  Dealing with the damage rough winter weather can cause doesn’t need to be a difficult task, especially if you’re prepared for the unique challenges the cold, sleet, wind, and snow present.  If you’d like to know what to do when that next major storm hits, check out these four tips to winterize your beautiful historic home:

Frozen Pipes

There may be nothing worse than your pipes bursting in your home.  In order to prevent this calamity, insulate your pipes, especially those on the outside or away from sources of heat.  You’ll want to introduce heat to your pipes as much as possible, so in really chilly weather, let your faucets drip warm water throughout the night.  If your pipes do freeze, turn off the main water valve and use a heat source to thaw the pipes.  A heat dryer will do the trick nicely.

Caulking

There’s nothing more irritating–and uncomfortable–than a pesky draft you can’t find.  Be proactive and search for drafts.  Check your windows when the weather is windy by running your finger along the frame.  If you feel the wind coming from a particular place on your check, use caulk to seal up the problem area.

Replace Furnace Filter

Keeping your furnace running smoothly not only saves your money, it saves you energy.  Your heating system should be running like a top during the times you need to the most.  Making sure your furnace filter is clean goes a long way to achieving this.

Lock Your Windows

This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how effective this actually is.  Locking your windows–much like caulking–creates a tight seal, keeping the cool air out and the warm air in.  Sally Zimmerman, manager of Historic Preservation Services at Historic New England, explains this in a bit more detail:

“Many people think the sash lock is there to prevent people from breaking in.” “It’s indeed a functional part of the window. It needs to be employed to do its job. That’s valuable.”

For more information about winterizing your home, check out this list from the Conservation Center for Arts and Historic Artifacts.  And for more information on historic preservations, building projects, or custom millwork, please contact us here at Tiefenthaler Construction.