Shorter days and cooler temperatures are sure signs that winter weather is on the way. While you might not be ready to pull out the heavy winter coat and gloves, this is the perfect time to make sure that your home is ready for colder temperatures.
So what can you do to get started? Here are a few steps you should bear in mind to make sure your home is prepared:
- Check for Drafts – Your first step to winterize your home is to check around your house for leaks and drafts. These holes allow warm air to escape and ultimately lead to higher energy costs. Some of the most common areas for drafts include windows, door frames, and electrical outlets. These holes can be covered up with caulking, weather stripping, window film, or high quality insulation. You may even consider purchasing door sweeps and storm windows.
- Check Your Insulation and Consider Adding More – It might be prudent to add more insulation, especially in older homes that might not have enough. Adding insulation to your attic is a good idea because much heat is lost through ceilings. Be sure to check your attic for holes that lead down into the house because this could lead to heat loss as well.
- Seal Your Driveway – Winter weather can take a huge toll on your driveway between all the snow, ice, and salt. You might want to have your driveway sealcoated on a regular basis, roughly every three years, to prevent major repairs in the future. Even though it is expensive, hiring a contractor to do it for you will save a lot of time and hassle.
- Wrap Your Pipes – A homeowner’s worst nightmare is a burst pipe because of freezing temperatures. Pipes can be wrapped with foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation. Pay particular attention to pipes that pass through unheated spaces such as your basement, garage, and crawlspaces.
- Check Your Heating System – It never hurts to get routine maintenance done on your house’s heating system before the onset of cold temperatures. It is never fun to have your heating system quit working in the middle of winter. Moreover, your furnace filters should be replaced on a regular basis.
See also: Winter Weather Prep
- Clean Out Those Gutters – Debris will inevitably clog up your gutters in the fall, and ice jams can form in obstructed gutters in the winter. These ice jams can cause water to leak into your house causing even more headaches. Unblocked gutters allow rain and melting snow to flow freely away from your home.
- Trim Your Trees – Heavy snow, ice, and wind can all lead to the breaking of limbs off of trees, and falling limbs could mean damage to your home and property. Start with the usual suspects; limbs that are hanging over houses, vehicles, and wires.
- Check Your Fire Alarm – Winterizing your home is great time to change the batteries on your smoke detector and make sure it is functioning. Make sure your fire extinguisher still works as well.