The winter can be harsh on your home. Freezing temperatures combined with snow can cause major damage starting with the exterior, but your interior can suffer as a result.
As a precaution, we highly recommend going through these tasks before the winter, as some of these are much harder to perform once the snow hits. Most of them are check-ups and inspections to ensure everything is working properly, but some are direct precautions to protect your home during the winter.
Be sure to check it out and let us know if you have any doubts about how to prepare your home for the winter!
Inspect your heating system
Your heating system will likely be working 24/7 once winter hits, as it’s necessary for some regions to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors. This is why you must ensure it’s in proper working condition.
For HVAC systems, you might want to perform an HVAC inspection, and most likely replace your HEPA filters before the new season to guarantee clean indoor air.
Furnaces should also be inspected, especially if it’s been inactive for some time. Ducts need to be cleaned, filters replaced, and the motor should be working properly.
Finally, you might also want to perform a chimney inspection if you have one. There are many dangers to not cleaning your chimney, such as clogging or becoming home to small animals, meaning you have to take care of this before even thinking about using your fireplace.
Assuming everything is in order, you might want to take this opportunity to install a newer and better thermostat. More recent models allow for advanced automation and scheduling, meaning you can save energy even when you’re away from home.
Clean your gutters
Gutters gather a lot of debris during Fall, even more so if you have nearby trees. It can easily clog up and create a number of issues if not dealt with before the winter.
For example, the lack of drainage means that water will get stuck and freeze there, which adds a lot of weight to your roof. In some cases, this can bend your roofing and even break it, let alone the potential of water damage to be seen indoors once the ice melts again.
Fortunately, all of this can be avoided with proper gutter cleaning. You can ask for an inspection first, but the cleaning itself is also pretty quick.
Drain exterior pipes
The easiest way to drain your outdoor pipes is to close the shut-off valves for each faucet in your home, then open the faucet and let it flow until the water stops coming out. You can use a bucket to collect the water, not letting it go to waste.
Also, be sure to remove any attachments from outdoor faucets like hoses or sprinklers. If you’re unsure how to do this properly, talk to a local plumber.
Winterize your outdoor faucets
Outdoor faucet covers provide more protection that prevents your faucets from freezing or rusting, which would make them unusable or prone to breaking easily. Faucet covers are fairly easy to find and install as well, making it one of the best and most efficient winter preparation tasks.
Schedule a roof inspection
The roof can take quite a beating during winter, especially during snowstorms. Snow can accumulate and become very heavy in large chunks, which can badly damage your roof. Even if it’s allowed to melt, the water can get stuck in the gutter and lead to water damage later on.
A roof inspection is recommended to ensure the roof over your head is ready to endure the winter. Even a few minor repairs go a long way in providing you and your family with more safety.
Insulate your home
Insulation is one of the most important steps for saving energy during winter. It’s a complement to your heating system – with good insulation and a working heating system, you’re all set.
But if your insulation is lacking, then your heating system can only do so much. It will have to work harder and for longer in order to maintain temperatures, which will in turn spend a lot more energy.
Be sure your windows and doors are properly insulated before the winter. Trust me, you’ll save a lot on the energy bill and it’s a home improvement project that pays off.
Learn 6 ways to determine if your home needs better insulation!
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
With all the time you’ll be spending indoors from now on, it’s crucial to ensure your indoor air quality is healthy. Besides, with fireplaces being used and the amount of cooking during Christmas time, it’s a good precaution to have a working smoke detector.
Check the batteries and be sure they’re working if you haven’t inspected them in a while!
Tree trimming
The reason to trim your trees before the winter is to protect your home and those around it. During Fall, trees may dry up and shed leaves, which can make some branches quite weak. If you just let snow accumulate on them, they might break.
And a big tree branch falling on top of your car, your roof, or even worse, someone in your family, is no laughing matter. This is why trimming is so important!
Trimming trees on your own can be quite dangerous and difficult without the proper tools, so get free quotes from tree-trimming professionals in your area and schedule an appointment!
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