Save money by preparing for cold weather now

Caulk leaks

Polyurethane caulking is a good all-around choice for sealing your home from drafts and leaks. Caulk gutter and downspout seams, plumbing and furnace vent pipes, flashing seams between the roof and siding, door and window frames, along siding joints and around the dryer vent.

Seal the roof

Start by sweeping any debris off from the roof. Then, use a roof coating suggested by a local dealer or service center, and apply to a dry, clean surface. Repair any punctures, cracks or breaks and tighten or replace loose fasteners.

Inspect blocks and jacks

Examine the blocks or jacks that support your mobile home. If they're not in good condition, have them repaired immediately to prevent sagging, which can cause damage to windows, doors, joints and walls.

Loosen tie-downs

Slightly loosen your home's tie-downs if you live in an area where the ground freezes solid. Ground can "heave" as much as three inches during the winter and tie-downs leave no place for the mobile home to move. Remember to tighten tie-downs again in the spring.

Check skirting

Your home's skirting should be secure, but not so tight that it stops ventilation or vertical movement. Once winter sets in, be sure to shovel snow and ice away from the skirting to avoid denting and cutting off the air supply required by the furnace.

Tape pipes

One of the simplest ways to prevent water pipes from freezing is to wrap them with heat tape to keep the pipes warm. Use only automatic heat tape with heavy rubber insulation around the wires. Install according to the instructions. Not all heat tapes can be used over plastic pipes and never place them over thermal insulation or near flammable materials.

Now get those sweaters and hot chocolate ready so you can stay warm and cozy this season.

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