How to get your home ready for a bad winter
Summer is officially over. Leaves are beginning to change. Winter is coming! For most, this means putting up holiday decorations, shopping for winter clothes and perfecting fall recipes; while these are all great things, one important task that shouldn’t fall off your list when preparing for winter is preparing your home!
Getting your home ready for winter is great for two reasons – repairs can make your home more efficient, lowering your energy bill and most importantly, preparing for winter helps protect one of your largest investments, your home!
Here are 5 tips to get your home ready for winter:
- Clean your gutters
After fall leaves have fallen, take a look in your gutters and downspouts. Flush them out with water, check all the joints and tighten any loose brackets. Once winter hits, a clogged gutter can cause an ice damn which can cause major damage to your home.
- Seal windows and door frames
Sealing door and window frames is one of the least expensive ways to maintain your home through a cold winter. Any small openings around a door or window frame can allow heat to escape or water to get in, causing cracks and mold build up.
- Check out the roof
Take a look at your roof to ensure it is in good shape. Look for any missing or loose shingles. Ice, rain and snow can cause major damage to a roof, which is why it is important to deal with repairs in the fall rather than during a snowstorm.
- Prepare your fireplace
Contact a licensed heating contractor to check your heating system. If you prefer to use a more traditional form of heating like a fireplace, get your wood and fireplace in order before winter hits. You will be happy you did when it’s freezing out and you already have chopped wood!
- Seal the driveway
Inspect your driveway for any cracks. If there are cracks, repair the damage with driveway filler and then coat the crack with a commercial sealer. Sealing your driveway will extend the life of the asphalt and keep it strong and in tact through winter.
How do you prepare your home for winter? Share in the comment section below!
