When really cold weather hits, your home is in
a state of vulnerability. Things freeze. Certain materials warp. And we like to
run fires to keep warm, which puts our home in further danger (ironic, right?).
You should take the time to protect your house
before cold weather really settles in. Preparation is key in just about every
other aspect of life, so it’s no different here with owning a home. Take into
consideration the following tasks if you want to make sure you’re securing your
home the best you can while also saving money!
Make
sure your windows are sealed.
If you want your home operating in peak condition and
saving the most energy possible, you definitely want to make sure all of your windows are still sealed properly. If you’ve recently installed new windows,
this shouldn’t be a problem. But if they’re beginning to age or are old
already, it’s definitely worth your while to grab some caulk and seal up faulty
window seals.
Inspect your HVAC system.
Before the cold hits, be sure to at least change your filters. Now, you could go the extra step by having an HVAC contractor look at your system. Some contractors even offer an annual maintenance agreement. You just want to make sure that your heat is going to work exactly when you need it to.
Check on drainage.
Check to make sure the area around your foundation hasn’t settled too much, which could create areas for water to pool up. If you do happen to find a low spot, just fill it in with some soil. You should also check areas around your downspouts and ensure that water is getting moved away from the home. Basically, you want to avoid water settling and saturating your soil around the foundation of your house; it’ll cause real problems if it freezes and then thaws during winter.
Clean out your gutters.
When your trees are stripped bare and have no leaves left, it’s a good time to get to cleaning your gutters. If your gutters happen to back up, they’ll overflow and run down your siding, which can deteriorate the exterior of your home. Similarly, overflowing gutters can speed up the deterioration of your foundation, introduce water infiltration in the basement, and even cause water to settle under your porch and sidewalks. You don’t want any of this if it can be avoided by simply cleaning your gutters.
