The leaves are beginning to fall, and you’re getting ready to head inside and “hibernate” for the winter. Your home is designed to keep you warm, but it’s important to complete the right home maintenance in order to winterize it and have it ready for the cold ahead. Here are a few of the most important things you can do to get your home ready for the cold season.
First, clean out your gutters. If you have trees or other things that can get debris in your gutters, they can quickly become clogged and make it hard for the gutters to function properly. They need to be clear in order to keep the water from snow and rain away from your home with the effective gutter system. You can hire a professional for this home maintenance, or just take your gloves and a ladder and start removing all the debris. Be sure to check the downspouts as well so they’re not clogged.
If you see any leaks around your house, now is the time to fix them. Look for inside and outside leaks, holes in the wall or roof, and other areas where water could come in. If you’re not sure how to fix your leaks, you can call someone to come and check it out. Be sure to thoroughly check the house so you find all of them—fixing them before winter is much easier than doing it when you have water or snow leaking into the house in the middle of a blizzard.
Add some extra insulation to your home to seal in the heat and keep the cold out. Places where this is most effective include the attic, basement, and other spots where your house loses the most air. Even though it costs a little bit of money up front for this home maintenance, you will probably notice significant savings on your heating bills because your house will seal in the heat that you do use instead of letting it escape.
It’s also a good idea to get your furnace or other heating device checked before you need to use it. In the off-season, before the winter hits, you may be able to find savings or deals on home maintenance for getting a quick furnace check so you can head off any problems before they become too much to deal with. At the same time, check your heating ducts to be sure they’re not leaking so you don’t lose any of the heat from your system before it even reaches the intended areas that you want to keep warm in your home.
If you have storm windows instead of screens, this is a good time to replace them. They can provide an extra layer of protection between your home and the outside, and just like the insulation, seal in the heat that is in your home while keeping the cold air from seeping inside. Drafty windows can be a sure-fire way to lose money and make your house chilly in the winter months.
The best time to begin thinking about winter is before it arrives. Getting your house ready with the right home maintenance is an easy way to prepare for the cold so you can stay toasty, avoid costly repairs, and save money.