Winter is right around the corner, so it’s time to get your home ready. Without the proper precautions, the cold, wind, and snow can take a toll on your home. A winter storm can damage your property and cost you a lot of money in repairs. Check out these eight useful tips to prepare your home for winter.
Clean the Gutters to Prepare Your Home for Winter
When’s the last time you took a look at your gutters? If gutters are full of water and debris when temperatures drop, they can break from the weight of the frozen matter inside of them. Cleaning your gutters is an important way to prepare your home for winter, and it can save you a lot of time, hassle, and money when freezing temperatures arrive.
Get a Generator
Nobody wants to lose power in the middle of a storm. Without power, you’ll be unable to light your home, charge your phone, and turn on the heat in some houses. Consult with a trusted professional to find a generator that suits your home’s needs. If you already have a generator, then you should clean it, see if it still runs, and make sure that it is ready to use over the winter months.
Insulate Doors and Windows
You don’t want to overspend on heating your home during the winter. A lot of heat can escape through your doors and windows, so it’s important to properly insulate them. Weatherstrip around the openings for doors and windows and caulk cracks and gaps to help keep the heat inside your home.
Prepare Your Home for Winter with Salt, Shovels, and Other Equipment
When a storm strikes, it’s smart to be prepared. It would be unsafe to drive to the local hardware store in poor weather conditions, so stock up on ice melt, shovels, gasoline, and other necessities. It’s a good idea to keep some extra tools and supplies around so that you have them handy if something breaks.
Check Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarms
According to the CDC, at least 430 people die in the United States from carbon monoxide poisoning every year. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, so without functioning alarms, you won’t know it is present.
Also, house fires are more likely to occur in winter than at any other time of year. Make sure CO and smoke alarms are functioning, replace the batteries, and perform whatever maintenance is specified in the alarm’s manual.
Prepare Your Home for Winter by Checking Tree Limbs
Wind and snow can easily knock down large tree limbs. Branches can land on you, your home, or your car, so it’s vital to remove precarious limbs and branches on your property. If a limb is too large or high up to handle on your own, then call a professional tree service to safely remove it for you.
Inspect Your Heating System
When the temperature drops, you rely on the home’s heating system to keep you comfortable. Your heating system’s filter gets dirty over time and parts can wear out, so have a certified technician inspect and service the system ahead of colder weather.
Take a Look at the Roof
Although you may not notice any drafts or leaks, that doesn’t mean that your roof is in peak condition. As you prepare your home for winter, take some extra time to check out your roof. Winter is hard on your roof, and weaker points may be vulnerable. Look for signs of damage and discoloration, and if you notice anything, call a roofer as soon as possible.
In-Depth 360 Home Inspection Services offers home inspection services to the Puget Sound area. Contact us to request an appointment.