Private resort

Get your home ready for work and school this winter

Designed in a classic Mediterranean style, the single-story house in the gated community of Fairbanks Ranch lives like its own private resort. Set on more than one acre of land, the home, built by custom homebuilder Richard Doan in 2014, offers an open-concept design in a spacious setting filled with custom woodwork and stone details. The open living space has an elegant feel with coffered ceilings, paneled wainscoting and arched windows and doorways.

The stone-surrounded doorway leading to the covered loggia anchors the center of the great room. At one end, the gourmet kitchen features Viking appliances and beautiful stone countertops. The space also includes a walk-in wet bar with a hammered copper sink, ice maker and Sub-zero wine refrigerator. The 6,000-square-foot house has four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, plus an extra half bath, as well as a dedicated executive office with custom built-ins. The covered loggia offers an additional 800

Although preparing your home for winter is a fairly consistent process year-to-year, many homes have seen significantly more use this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. If your home will ser ve as your office or school throughout the winter months, it’s important to address issues that may have been noticed but tolerable during winters past.

Consider these tips from the experts at the National Association of the Remodeling Industr y to help ensure your home is ready before winter weather strikes.

Improve indoor air quality

Beyond proper physical and structural considerations of winter preparations, the increased daily usage of your home naturally increases the importance of indoor air quality. Since windows and doors will likely be closed more often, moisture levels within your home can be significantly affected. Use a humidifier, if necessar y, to maintain a relative humidity between 45 and 50 percent, which is healthier and can feel more comfortable. It can also keep wooden doors and windows functioning properly and wood furniture and floors looking good.

Get your furnace checked

To keep your furnace from failing when you need it most, get it inspected by a professional before you need to rely on it to heat your home in the dead of winter. If you’re not leaving the house and turning down the thermostat each day, this will be especially important this year. Regular tune-ups can prolong your furnace’s life, help prevent carbon monoxide leaks and ensure your unit is working at maximum efficiency. If a wholehouse humidifier is included as part of the heating system, also inspect the humidifier and replace the element, if necessar y.

Seal leaks around windows and doors

Air infiltration is one of the largest culprits of reductions in a home’s efficiency. Small air leaks can add up to significant

heat loss and a corresponding increase in energy consumption. If replacing window screens with storm windows and installing a storm door on your house isn’t realistic, increase energy efficiency by sealing gaps around window and door moldings with caulk to help keep heat from escaping. If any pipes or ducts travel through an exterior wall of your home, you can also use caulking and weather-stripping to help block potential entry points for cold air.

Check your gutters

Improper drainage away from the home is one of the biggest causes of water leaking into basements and crawlspaces. Gutters and downspouts have the single purpose of routing water away from your home to help prevent damage to your foundation. Once leaves have fallen, ensure your gutters are properly secured and clear of debris.

Clogged gutters can lead to improper drainage and potential overflow or other water-related issues. Also adjust downspouts so they direct water at least 5 feet from the house to help minimize the possibility of water run-off back toward the foundation.

Prep the plumbing

When water freezes, it expands. Any residual water in pipes that is exposed to freezing temperatures, including interior lines located in exterior walls or unheated areas, can burst. Start by disconnecting hoses and shutting off exterior faucets, draining any water that remains in them and storing hoses indoors to prevent cracks. Drain any other pipes, valves or inground sprinklers that may be exposed to the elements and, for an extra layer of protection, wrap water spigots with covers to prevent damage.

Sometimes a simple trick like keeping a cabinet door cracked open to allow warm air into the space can prevent frozen pipes.

Find more expert tips to get your home ready for winter at Remodelingdoneright.com.

Family Features

EMILY JOHN Falling leaves can clog gutters and downspouts, which can lead to over flowing gutters. Excess water near the house can damage the foundation.

COURTESY PHOTO Properly sealed windows will help keep warm air in and reduce the heating bill. Heat loss from small air leaks can add up.