The colder weather is coming upon us as the temperatures drop, which means it’s time to start preparing your home for winter. Even if you live in a location for which there is never a lot of snow, it is still is a good idea to secure your home from the cold weather, rain, and icy conditions that might come your way.
Winterizing your home is the best thing you can do to preserve the property. You are preventing your home from being damaged by the elements of winter and you will also save money on heating expenses as they can get pretty expensive during the winter months. Below are four tips that you should follow to get your home ready for this winter season.
Insulation
What keeps the warm air in the home and the cold air out? Insulation. Without it, you will find that your home is more like a shell and never seems to warm up just right. During the fall months it is a good time to see if your home is properly insulated.
You specifically want to check locations such as your attic and basement where insulation is usually exposed so you can see. If you find that there isn’t any insulation, adding some would be ideal. However, if that’s not practical, adding plastic and sealing off openings in the home can help insulate it a bit better.
Roof/Gutters
No one likes this job, but next on the list of things to do to prepare your house for the winter is to check out your roof and gutters. You need to make sure that your roof is in good condition and able to handle the winter weather.
You will also want to make sure that your gutters are cleared out so that water can properly flow off the roof to avoid damage. If you’re not too fond of getting on a ladder and climbing on top of your home, you can always consult with a professional roofer for a reasonable price to inspect it.
Heating Systems
Now is a good a time as any to have your heating system inspected. You don’t want to wait until the first cold day to find out that your heat is working right. This job is essentially best handled by an HVAC contractor as they are trained to thoroughly inspect systems. Homeowners may not be aware of what is properly working or not. A professional will inspect, repair, and ensure your safety in the midst of it all.
Windows and Doors
It is imperative that you check all of your windows and doors to ensure they’re properly sealed. The idea is to check for places that air might be getting into the home. All doors can be properly sealed by purchasing some weathering stripping which you can stick on the door to cover the draft that comes in from the bottom and sides of your door.
For windows, you can purchase plastic window treatments which are used to cover the windows and prevent cool air from getting in and heat from getting out. This cuts down on your expense for heating costs.
These few simple steps can go a long way in keeping your home secure and warm during the winter months. Be sure that you don’t delay in making these changes as you don’t want to freeze your buns off this winter season.
