Should you be prepping your home for winter?

9/15/2023 (Permalink)

As most of you already know, we are almost at that time of year again when the sun sets by 5:00 p.m. and it's 20° out. There's nothing worse than having a pipe burst in your home or an issue with your HVAC system during the winter time. So what can we do to prepare our home for the winter? Here are some tips

1. Clean Out Your Gutters

You should try to clear out your gutters at least a few times per year. This can fluctuate depending on how many trees you have in your yard. Don’t forget the downspouts either because twigs and leaves tend to build up in them.

2. Protect Your Pipes

Places that are usually unheated are your garage, basement and attic. These areas are the most at risk for frozen pipes. Pipe insulation works well on pipes that might be exposed. Try to keep your garage closed at most times during the winter. Keep the temperature of your home above 55 degrees fahrenheit

3. Recaulk your windows and doors

Any windows or doors in your home that might have a draft, need to be recaulked to help keep the temperature in your home from changing rapidly. This also saves on your heating bills so the furnace doesn’t keep turning on and off. Be sure to only caulk the exterior perimeter, and use exterior silicone caulk so it doesn’t shrink and expand due to seasons.

4. Get your roof inspected

This is a very crucial step. Before winter you might want to hire a contractor to inspect your roof for any missing or cracked shingles. If you have access to your roof, you could do it yourself but take the right precautions. Packed snow could cause issues for you in the future if you don’t take the right sets beforehand.