Winter is coming, and you must prepare your home for it. An ill-prepared home will not serve you and your family well when the days become chilly. As they say, preventive maintenance is always better than repair and replacement. It is cheaper and less stressful compared to scrambling to repair something because you need it working.
Winter is a wonderful time of the year, but it can also bring some serious and devastating problems to homeowners who are not prepared for it. Aside from preparing for your winter wardrobe, you must also prepare your home for the season. It can help you save not just on repair and replacement costs, but it can also help you save on your utility bills.
Your roof vents matter.
Check your roof vents if they are still in perfect condition. A working roof vent provides your attic enough ventilation to protect your roof and your home from moisture damage. Other problems that insufficient ventilation may bring include, but are not limited to molds, mildew, frost, ice dams, and wood rot.
What makes your roof vents important? During winter, the heat inside your home rises to your attic. If there is no ventilation, moisture build-up will occur. Roof vents allow cool air to come inside, keeping the temperature in your roofs even. This helps you avoid serious roof problems that can give you costly problems in the future.
If your roof vents need changing, invest in high-quality roof vents. You can choose roof vents manufactured by plastic injection molding companies for an affordable yet durable option.
Do not skip your seasonal heating maintenance.
Imagine your heating giving up on you in the middle of a chilly winter night. It is a disaster that you would not want to experience. Before the winter months begin, it is important to ensure that your furnace, air filters, and air vents are all in good working conditions. Call your trusted HVAC professional for a thorough inspection of your HVAC system. Your HVAC professional will then clean the furnace and change your air filters. Depending on the package that you will avail, they can also clean your furnace ducts. He will also check for gas leaks, which can be harmful to you and your family if left undetected.
Check and clean your gutters.
The chances of rainfall also increase during winter. It is important to ensure that your gutters and drainage are clean and free from leaves and debris. Water can accumulate in the gutters if your drainage is clogged with dried leaves and debris. The water may overflow and break your clogged gutter. It will not only damage your gutter, but it may also damage the roof. Ice can also gather in the gutters, which can cause problems when they thaw.
Clearing your gutter from the leaf shower that was autumn can help save your gutter and roof from serious damage. To prevent your gutter from collecting more leaves and debris, you can install gutter guards.
Winter-proof your doors and windows.
Doors and windows provide gaps for the heated air to escape from your home. Seal gaps and leaks in your doors and windows to lessen your electricity bills. There are several weatherproofing options that you can choose from: foam-tape, self-stick plastic, tubular rubber, or silicone.
Call in your plumber.
You may want all your pipes to be checked before winter starts. The freezing temperature can damage your outdoor pipes, which are exposed to extreme weather elements. Pipes, when frozen, may crack, and it can give you a major headache. You will have to deal with gallons of water, all wasted, once the cracked, frozen pipe thaws. You can do it on your own, but a plumber will have a keener eye spotting problematic pipes. You can protect your outdoor pipes with pipe insulation made from polyethylene. Another cheaper option is your trusty duct tape.
Give your trees a good trim.
If you have a tree in your yard, you may want to trim it of its weak and dead branches. The wind and the ice can cause these branches to break off from the tree. These falling branches can hurt anyone or damage your car and your home.
Level up your interior’s insulation.
You can amp up the insulation of your home to better protect you from the cold. Add some insulation in your basement, garage, and the crawl spaces in your home where the cold air can creep in or the warmed air can escape through. The added insulation can also protect the pipes indoors from freezing and cracking.
There are other preparations that you can make to have a winter-ready home. You may also want to prepare on a back-up power source in case of sudden power outages. It will help you keep your home interior warm enough until the power comes back on. Your patio and your driveway are also checked for cracks and other damages that can worsen when they become frozen. Once you have everything covered, you can enjoy the season with peace of mind.
