Winter is almost here and days are getting colder. This only means that your home, too, might get colder. However, if you think about it, there are some great things you can do to make sure your home feels cozy and warm. So, if you want to make some minor improvements, here are some great ways to prepare your home for winter.
Tune Up Your Heating
Your heating system should be inspected before the heating season even comes around. You can call in an expert to clean it, do repairs if needed and make sure that the whole system is running smoothly and efficiently. Additionally, such inspections measure carbon-monoxide leakage, which is a big deal. So, why inspect it before winter? Well, people often get the heating tuned up and checked only when they’ve seen there is an issue. You don’t want to wait for weeks for the expert to come, while you are freezing and losing heat in your home.
Insulate It
If you don’t already have insulation in your home, now is the time to do it. Proper insulation can significantly protect your home from unwanted cold air or heat during any season. What’s more, it can even preserve the heat during the winter on the inside and help you use heating systems less, which means lower bills. You can easily find a local insulator to approximately give you advice and how much insulation you need in your home. What’s more, if you have metal constructions in your home, insulation is even more important. You can easily find quality bubble insulation for metal buildings and add it to your home to keep those walls warm during the whole winter.
Prevent Ice Dams
Some homes do tend to develop lots of icicles on the roof, which can be quite dangerous. If you have noticed those last year, or ice dams, you should make sure to prevent that. Ice dams are dangerous since they can make the meltwater go back up and flow inside your home, and create lots of damage. You can set up a meeting with a home-energy auditor or weatherization contractor to find the cause of these issues and fix any air leaks or inadequate insulation in the attic.
Check Your Roof
Another very important part of your home that needs preparation for the winter is your roof. Go up there and look for any damage, loose or missing shingles, or any irregularities that might cause leaks during storms and snow. Then, if you do find some issues, cal a handyman to fix those up. On the other hand, if you have a flat roof with asphalt and pebbles, make sure to rake or blow off any fall leaves, pine needles, and other things that hold moisture and could potentially cause damage to the house.
Caulk Around Doors and Windows
Windows and doors can often leak a lot of heat out. That is why, if there are no finances to replace them at the moment, put some caulk on them. If you noticed there are gaps between siding and window or door frames that are bigger than a nickel, then the caulk can help prevent heat from getting out. The best caulk to use here is silicone because it won’t shrink and it is impervious to the elements. You can also consider window-glazing putty, to seal glass into the window frame if that’s the issue too.
Clean the Gutters
Last but not least, you should make sure the gutters are clean before the winter. If you leave them to get filled with detritus, the water can back up against your house and damage your wood trim, siding, and roofing. Plus, it causes leaks and ice dams. You can easily do this chore yourself and make sure to clean out all dead leaves, branches, and other things from the gutters. And if your house is bigger or you don’t have the skills to do this, call a handyman and they might even help you find any issues with the gutters and fix them up.
As a homeowner, you know that having a house produces more and more chores each year. However, before the winter comes, you should make sure your house is prepared for it. Just like you would buy a jacket or get the old one out of the closet, your house needs some warming up and inspections before the weather hits hard.
