4 Tips to get your home winter-ready
As the days get shorter and the weather turns chilly, it’s time to prepare your home for the winter months ahead. Because your home will likely require extra maintenance to keep it in shape throughout the winter, beginning preparations early can help lower energy bills, increase the efficiency and lifespan of your home’s components and make your property safer overall.
Consider these tips from the experts at the National Association of the Remodeling Industry to help ensure your home is ready before winter weather strikes.
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. Regular tune-ups can prolong your furnace’s life, help prevent carbon monoxide leaks and ensure your unit is working at maximum efficiency.
Seal Leaks Around Windows and Doors
If replacing window screens with storm windows and installing a storm door on your house isn’t realistic, you can keep your home warmer and increase energy efficiency by applying caulk to seal any gaps you find around window and door moldings and help keep heat from escaping. If any pipes or ducts travel through an exterior wall of your home, you can also use caulking and weatherstripping to help block potential entry points for cold air.
Check Your Gutters
Once the leaves have fallen and before the first snow, check to make sure your gutters are properly secured — replacing gutter spikes and downspout rivets where needed — and clear of debris. If your gutters are full of debris, it can lead to water backing up against the house and overflowing, which can cause potential damage to roofing and siding. Also adjust downspouts so they direct water at least 5 feet from the house, which can help prevent saturating the ground around the house and causing foundational damage.
Examine Decks and Patios
Your patios, sidewalks, driveways and decks need occasional maintenance as well, and giving them a once-over before colder weather hits can help ensure they’re prepared to stand up to the elements. Repairing any broken joints or cracks in stonework and applying sealer. The same principles hold true for decks and wooden handrails.
Though typically made from treated or rotresistant wood, they are subject to splintering, decay or insect damage and may need to be stained and sealed periodically. Of course, if replacement is necessary, it’s best to complete the project before inclement weather hits.
Find more expert tips to get your home ready for winter at Remodelingdoneright. com.