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Winterizing your home
Francis Biddle • December 2, 2019
TIPS FOR WINTERIZING YOUR HOME
Clean gutters and downspouts in mid-fall and double-check them before winter.
This will help keep them clear for water to run through, rather than running the risk of possibly freezing around whatever debris and junk is left from the summer and fall. It will also allow room for melting snow to have an escape path down the gutters and out of the downspouts to function properly!
Replace the filter in your furnace.
This can help prevent home fires that start in your furnace, and allow your heat to run more efficiently. It will keep your home warmer and your utilities bill down!
Close any vents in your home that may have been opened for the warm weather.
If you didn't this year, then keep a list next year of all of the ones you open and tape it inside of your kitchen cabinet door. If you didn't this year, double check all of the ones you can think of and run it by someone else in the house as well that may have opened ones you did not open, or remember ones you can't!
Disconnect hoses from outside faucets and turn off the water.
When you turn off the water, be sure to empty out the hose completely. Disconnecting the hoses helps protect the integrity and life span of the hoses, so water isn't freezing and melting in them over and over. Turning off the water prevents any water fountain shows!
Buy a snow shovel and other winter supplies before the messy weather hits.
Cost will only go up through the winter months as supply and demand changes, and you don't want to get stuck without one by a surprise storm!
Keep extra water and canned food in storage just in case.
This will keep you from running to the grocery store with everyone else in the big rush!
Test your heating system, so that you know it will work properly when you need it.
Get it checked out too by a technician! Better to know and fix it now than mid snow storm.
Give your deck a fresh coat of sealer to protect it from the winter elements.
And don't forget to close your eyes real tight looking forward to all of those summer cookouts on that deck later in the year!
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The fall is gradually coming to an end, and with it comes the cold winter. If you’re yet to prepare your home for the weather, now is the perfect time to do so. Check out our simple guide for how to prepare your home and the most important to-do list for winter. Check the Heating System Winter is a cold and long season, and one of the ways to combat the cold during this period is having an efficient heating system. Before the weather turns dreary and cold, you need to make sure your heating system is all in order. Have a professional come take a look at it and change the filters. Some of the things to look out for include screeching noise, blocked ducts, a faulty thermostat, and bad filters. You don’t want to wait until it’s too cold to discover that your heating system is underperforming. You can save yourself the frustration, money, and time by scheduling a routine maintenance check. Seal Windows and Doors Gaps in your windows/doors are the easiest way to lose heat during winter. If you have the budget, you can replace your windows and doors. However, if that isn’t in the books, you can explore other options like insulation or caulking. Besides, properly insulating your home before the cold comes will ensure your home stays warm during winter. Inspect your Chimney and Fireplace Your chimney and fireplace will be doing a lot of work soon; it’s only wise to inspect them before you start using them daily. Now is also the perfect time to stack that firewood and make sure you have enough to last for a long time. A physical inspection of both fireplace and chimney can ensure you’re good to go for the incoming wood burning. Some of the things to look out for include: Missing bricks from the chimney Debris or bed nest near the chimney cap Tree branches close to chimney Ensure that there are no missing bricks in the fireplace The fireplace is clean and dry No combustible materials near the fireplace and chimney Pack Your Outdoor Spaces Your outdoor space will see little or no action during the winter. Now is the best time to clean out your outdoor furniture and accessories to prevent any damage. Start by debugging your plants and packing the grill and furniture inside before the first snow hits. You can store these items away in your garage and bring them out once the snow is gone. Prepare For Winter Storms Winter storms may not happen often but you want to be prepared for when they do occur. Get a home and car emergency kit and place it somewhere reachable at all times. You also need to ensure your oil tank is full and, if possible, get a generator. The possibility of the power going off during a storm is quite high. However, with a fully-powered generator and reserved fuel, you can ride the storm without any qualms. Inspect the Roof You sure don’t want melting snow leaking down your roof in the thick of the winter. This is why you need a roof inspection to help you spot any potential issues. You can either do your roof inspection yourself or call a professional. If you’re going the DIY route, here are some of the things to check and do: Missing or damaged shingles Large accumulation of moss which may signal decay Trim tree branches close to the roof and house Check gutters for clogging, debris and corrosion. Depending on the damage you find, you may have to find a professional roof contractor for repairs. Our team at F&J Builders are expert home contractors with years of experience and professional service. Give us a call today or fill out our online contact form !
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