Top 7 Maintenance Tips To Prepare Your Home for a Cozy Winter
Staying cozy in winter can be challenging. With freezing temperatures and bone-chilling wind raging outside, it’s easy to fall ill and find yourself bedridden for days.
The most straightforward solution to prevent this from happening is to stay within your four walls as often as possible. However, it also might not suffice if you fail to take proper care of your property.
Sealing all the gaps around your windows and doors is only one of the numerous tasks you should complete to winter-proof your home. Besides that, you could schedule a chimney inspection, stock up on winter supplies, and remove leaves and other debris from gutters so that melted rain and snow can drain properly.
Here’s a building checklist you should follow to maintain your house in good condition:
Inspect the Roof and Gutters
The first thing you need to do is to make sure that your roof can withstand heavy snowfalls. Look for gaps in the shingles, loose nails, or cracked asphalt tiles.
Once you’re sure it’s in good condition, check the gutters and downspouts for leaves and twigs.
Gutters play an essential role in protecting your home from water damage. When they’re full of leaves and debris, they can’t drain melted snow and rain properly, which might lead to leaks and flooding. So, make sure to clear them out before winter arrives.
Seal Gaps Around Doors and Windows
One of the most significant sources of heat loss in winter is air leakage. To prevent cold air from entering your home, you need to seal all the gaps around doors and windows using weather stripping or caulk.
Ensure that all these gaps are sealed so that heat doesn’t escape your house and cold air doesn’t get in. Doing so will save you money on energy bills and ensure that your home is warm, cozy, and comfortable.
Schedule a Chimney Inspection
A chimney inspection is crucial to make your winter season safer. If the chimney hasn’t been inspected for a long time, you might end up with a fireplace that doesn’t work well. You might also suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as from fire hazards, and other safety risks.
Consider hiring a professional to clean your chimney. They will know how to eliminate smoke, soot, and other unhealthy substances. If you have any doubts about whether or not the job should be performed by an expert, avoid taking chances. It may lead to more significant problems if left unattended.
Protect Your Pipes
Frozen pipes are one of the most common winter problems homeowners face. Once they burst, they can cause significant water damage.
To prevent this, insulate all the exposed pipes in your basement, garage, and attic. You can use foam pipe insulation or electric heat tape for this purpose.
Check Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are vital for keeping your family safe. Testing them from time to time will help you ensure they work correctly.
Fortunately, this is one of the easiest tasks to complete. All you need to do is visit every room and look at your smoke detectors. Check if they are all working correctly, including their batteries. If they are old, it’s best to buy new ones and replace them.
Your carbon monoxide (CO) detectors should also be in good condition. If you cannot check them yourself, ask a professional to do that for you.
Schedule a Heating System Check-Up
If you have a central heating system, ensure it is inspected and serviced before the cold weather sets in. Annual maintenance will ensure that your furnace or boiler runs efficiently and doesn’t break down when you need it most.
Your HVAC equipment is a vital part of your home’s protection against cold. It’s also where air can leak, allowing freezing temperatures to penetrate the house. Insulating ducts is crucial to prevent heat loss and keep warm air from escaping.
At the same time, inspecting the furnace will ensure it works as it should. You will learn about potential repairs needed and if you will have to replace it with a new, more energy-efficient model.
Stock Up on Winter Supplies
Last but not least, ensure you have enough food and other essential supplies to last at least a few days in case you get stranded at home due to a blizzard or power outage. Stock up on non-perishable food items, bottled water, medicine, and warm clothes so you can ride out the storm comfortably.
Here’s a list of accessories you should have on hand before the cold sets in:
• Hand Warmers — These small packets are placed in pockets or boots and release heat for many hours.
• Portable Heaters — Portable heaters are convenient, safe, and affordable. They are great for heating small spaces and rooms that lack proper insulation.
• Floor Fans — Floor fans can help circulate the warm air within a given area. You can even place one in front of a heater to get an extra boost.
• Blankets and Sheets — Blankets and sheets are useful when you feel chilly and need to stay warm.
• Canned Food — You’ll want to stock up on canned goods so that you don’t have to worry about running out of food in the middle of winter.
• Candles — Candles don’t only add a pleasant scent, but they can also provide warmth for a long period of time.
In Conclusion
There are many easy-to-follow home maintenance tips you should adopt to keep your house in good shape. It’s not as complicated or expensive as you might think; all it takes is a little care and effort.
The key to maintaining a high-quality home is to keep up with the maintenance on a regular basis. Remember to check your furnace, water heater, windows, and doors every once in a while and ensure they’re in top condition.
You could also consider hiring professionals to help you out with your home repairs and maintenance so that you don’t have to worry about handling it yourself.
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