Winter is here and if you have not done so already, it is time to prepare your home for the harsh weather that is coming!
Cold temperatures and snowfall don’t have to be a burden for your home. Implementing some of these preventative tips will help keep your home nice and cozy this season:
- Clean your fireplace or chimney: Make sure that it is winter ready. Any build-up inside your chimney from last season could be a fire hazard.
- Clean out your gutters: If your gutters are clogged, they can cause damage to both the interior and exterior of your home. Having clean gutters ensures that when snow melts on your roof, there will be a clean drainage system in place.
- Check interior and exterior pipes: As temperatures drop, any water left inside of them will freeze. Be sure to fix any leaks to prevent pipes from bursting.
- Protect outdoor furniture: Store any furniture in a shed or garage. Consider purchasing a weatherproof cover to ensure the quality stays intact.
- Get your winter gear ready: Test all winter equipment, make sure you have a safe ice melt, and get your shovel ready. When a storm hits, you want to be prepared.
- Insulate your non-living spaces: Check your attic, basement, and crawl spaces to ensure they are properly insulated. This will help keep the warm air inside your living spaces.
- Look for ailing tree limbs: Walk through your yard and nearby pathways to check for any dead branches. Dead branches that get covered in snow will easily snap, hit your home, and could cause thousands of dollars in property damage.
- Check your windows and doors: Look for any broken seals or drafts that might need to be re-caulked or require new weather stripping. Broken seals and drafts will cause your heating system to go into overdrive and raise your heating bill.
- Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans: By doing this, it will help keep the warm air from rising and will keep your rooms warmer.
These are just a few home maintenance projects that will help prevent any unwanted surprises that may pop-up in the spring. Be sure to follow our social media accounts to learn more tips and tricks for your home and financing needs!
