Though a home may not be a living and breathing being, it still needs to be cared for and regularly maintained to keep sound appearances. As the season’s change and rain turn into snowfall, preparing your home for the colder months ahead will leave you with far less to worry about once the snow piles up. Before digging out the shovel and defrosting your fingertips, follow these steps to ensure your home stays reliably cozy this winter!
Inspect the Foof
There is nothing worse than experiencing a leak from the roof when there are heaps of snow covering your house’s roof. Locating that leak becomes nearly impossible and repairing it is even harder in freezing temperatures. Beat the weather and inspect your roof’s health for any damage. Be on the lookout for any loose, broken, or missing shingles, as damaged shingles are generally the culprits behind winter leakage.
Check Your Heating System
Did you know that most heating and air systems only last about 12 to 15 hours on average? Some systems can only give 10 years of reliable heating. Enlisting the help of a technician who can inspect your furnace will ensure your system’s optimal health. Contractors will be able to survey your heating systems efficiency and carbon monoxide safety. Not all services are priced equally. Shop around your area for inspection service prices as they vary by company and location. HVAC contractors in Sacramento may be significantly cheaper than contractors in Roseville! Do your research before dishing out dough!
Gut the Gutters
The fall season takes a toll on your home’s gutter system each time it rolls around. Fallen leaves and tree debris crowd the system and making proper flow difficult. Neglecting your gutters cleanliness can lead to scary ice dams, pesky leaks, and deterioration to your home’s foundation. Gutter blockage can lead to a number of costly risks that are better to avoid before becoming a possibility.
Sweep the Chimney
Before even thinking of firing up the logs in the fireplace make sure your chimney and vents are cleaned and prepped. This also applies to any heating appliances that burn gas, wood, oil, or coal. Sweeping the chimney ensures that your home is safe from any chimney fires or carbon-monoxide leakage. Inspection prices vary but generally fall between $50 to $100. The holiday season is coming up fast—celebrate the right way knowing your home is protected against all fiery odds.
Plug up Household Drafts
Once the heat is turned on for the winter months, you won’t want to be wasting any warmth on any maddening window leaks. Reduce the risk of coming down with a cold by plugging up any breezy openings from doors or windows. Take a tour of your home and survey the spots where you feel a draft. With the help of a tube of caulk and a can of gap-sealer, you’ll be able to seal the heat in and keep the cold out.
Reset Your Ceiling Fan Blades
Did you know you could reverse the direction of your ceiling fans? Experts recommend reversing your fan blades to move clockwise in the winter to stay warm rather than cool. Working to push warm air down rather than lifting cool air, reversed ceiling fans allow you to save on high thermostat heating costs.
Prep Your Patio
Unless you and your family enjoy long nights out on the snow-covered patio, it’s best to pack up the patio and all it’s furniture before the winter claims it. Make sure the patio area is also completely treated and rot-proof for the tough winter months. Sealing your patio furniture on a warm sunny day will ensure that no moisture gets locked in. If moisture seeps through during storage, you could be left with moldy or musty cushions come springtime.
Check Your Nearby Trees
After the fall season, your trees show their true skeletal makeup. If any look weak or on the verge of collapsing, remove them to avoid later problems. Falling trees are a scary facet of the winter season, but preventative measures can save you a lot of headaches. Any branches hanging closely above or next to your house should be trimmed, but be cautious about timing. Fall isn’t a great time to trim your trees because they are still working on strengthening their roots for the harsh winter season, so tend to your leafless trees with proper tools closer to the beginning of winter.