Are you ready for sub-zero temperatures, ice everywhere and tons of snow? Neither are we! But, it’s coming and that means you need to get your home winterized to protect it from potential damage that the harshest of the seasons can bring. Do it now before the cold and snow arrive.
Your home should be ready for winter before it arrives. Old Man Winter has a lot of tricks up his sleeve, but if you’re prepared you won’t get caught off guard by a burst pipe or a broken furnace, which are extremely difficult to deal with in winter.
1. Have your furnace serviced.
Get your furnaced routinely checked over each autumn to make sure it is running smoothly and efficiently. If you have an old thermostat, consider having it replaced by a newer programmable one so you can save money on your heating costs.
2. Inspect doors and windows.
Drafty doors and windows will have heat leaking from your home. It’s imperative to ensure these are sealed. Check the weather-stripping around your windows and doors and replace it if it is faulty. Caulk both the inside and outside of window and door frames where necessary. If you need to, buy an inexpensive plastic insulating kit for your windows.
3. Sweep the chimney.
There’s nothing like a crackling fire on a cold winter day, but there’s nothing quite as dangerous as a dirty and blocked chimney to ruin it, either. Sweeping your chimney will help prevent fires and the buildup of carbon monoxide.
4. Clean out your gutters.
Clogged gutters could mean a major leak inside your home because they prevent rain and melted snow from draining away. Ensure downspouts empty at least five feet away from your home so water does not pool around your foundation.
5. Inspect the roof.
While you are cleaning the gutters of your home, give your roof a quick inspection. Check for missing, loose or damaged shingles and get those taken care of by a professional roofer. Also ask them to check the caulking around any vents or chimneys.
6. Turn off outside faucets.
Disconnect your garden hose and make sure your outside faucet is turned off. This will prevent water freezing in the pipe and causing it to burst.
7. Prune bushes and trees.
Trim trees and bushes back from power lines and your house. This will decrease the risk of property damage and power issues when those winter winds are whipping tree branches back and forth.
8. Insulate pipes and unheated areas.
Cover any exposed pipes in the basement, attic or crawl space so they don’t freeze and burst. Even a small pipe can cause a lot of damage.
It takes just a little bit of time, effort and cost to winterize your home, but it will be well worth it to prevent damage to your house. Stock up on salt and gravel and make sure your snow shovels and snowblower are in working order. It will be winter before you know it!
If you’re planning on heading out of town for the upcoming holidays or at any time of the year, you will also want your home secured against theft. For that, you can get some roll shutters for the windows and doors. They will stop unwanted people from getting in at any time of year. Contact us to inquire about roll shutters, awnings or shades for your home.