You don’t have to live in a far-northern climate to benefit from preparing your home for winter. Even in more southerly latitudes, your home can be battered by sub-freezing temperatures, snow and ice accumulations, and high winds from winter storms. And beyond potential damage caused by winter weather, proper preparation of your home for the winter will make the interior of your home a warm, toasty, and safe refuge during the short days and long nights that winter brings. Consider doing these important tasks before the season changes.
Snow, ice, and cold temperatures mean that moisture and dampness will not dry out as quickly as it will in the summer, so problems with your gutters and roof can be magnified during the winter. Take these steps to be sure your gutters and roof are ready for winter weather.
Frozen pipes can be much more than a temporary inconvenience denying you the use of water in your home. In extreme cases, your pipes can burst, resulting in damage to your home and a hefty repair bill. There are some simple steps you can take to make sure that frozen pipes won’t be an issue for you this winter.
If you want your home to be a warm refuge from the colder temperatures of winter, keeping cold air out is one of the best ways to make that desire a reality. Get started with these steps.
Even a well-insulated home will be cold if your heating system isn’t up to the task. If you don’t have your home heating and cooling system inspected on a regular schedule by qualified technicians, now is a great time to start. These professionals will perform routine maintenance and inspect all the important components of your system to identify developing problems and ensure that your system will operate properly through the winter.
Regular inspections and maintenance will lower heating costs, extend the life of your equipment, and minimize the risk of breakdowns. It’s a smart investment to make in your home.
If you have a fireplace or woodstove or use space heaters in the colder months of the year, you should make it a habit to test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors before you begin using these supplemental heat sources. In addition, make sure you have working detectors on each level of your home.
Do you plan on using a fireplace or woodstove during the winter? Make sure to have the chimney cleaned before you start using it.
We’ve concentrated on winterizing your house so far, but what about the rest of your property? Winter weather presents challenges for the rest of your property as well.
You never know when a winter storm can cause disruption to power and make it difficult to get out and about. So it’s a wise idea to plan ahead for these eventualities by having a home emergency kit ready during the winter months. Here are a few key items you should have in your kit.
Remember, whether it’s an emergency or not, to use common sense during the winter months (and any time of the year). Don’t leave candles burning unattended, and if you’re using a generator for power keep it far enough from your home to prevent carbon monoxide from entering.
Your home winterization checklist may seem pretty daunting. But if you check all of these items off of your list you’re much more likely to have a warm and comfortable winter. Our team has the expertise to help you with many of the items on this list, plus help you select upgrades for your home, like new, well-insulated windows and doors. Contact us and we’ll be happy to help you out. Quotes are free, so don’t delay.