Winter is already upon us…snow, frost, and all! If you haven’t already, make sure your home is ready for the long winter months ahead. Here are some maintenance tasks and tips to ensure your home is safe for the winter elements to come.
1. Caulk Your Windows and Doors
One of the best ways to keep your home warm in the winter is to ensure all doors and windows are properly insulated. Our solution? Caulk your windows and doors! Visit your nearby hardware store to pick up cartridge of 100% silicone caulk and a caulking gun. Be sure to pick out a caulk product that will match your windows and doors. A common mistake that people make when caulking is using it as a glue rather than a seal, so make sure you read the instructions before you start.
2. Clean Out Your Gutters
Avoid water clogging and water damage to your house by clearing out the leaves and fall debris from your gutters. Not only is this a practical maintenance task to avoid damage year-round, but having clean gutters will allow snow to drain efficiently from your roof. Leaves are notorious from getting moldy, so make sure you eliminate all opportunities for it to grow in your gutters.
3. Turn off Outdoor Faucets
One of the biggest nightmares of homeowners is coming home to a foot of water on the floor from burst pipes. It’s even worse when you neglect to prepare your home before winter comes to avoid this awful problem. One easy way to prevent burst pipes is to turn off your outdoor faucets. This quick maintenance task will keep your home’s pipes from freezing and consequently bursting.
4. Clean Your Chimney
Contact a professional to properly sweep your chimney in preparation for the long winter months ahead. The importance of this maintenance task is to clear out fall debris, such as leaves, branches, and nests that could furiously ignite from one tiny ember. It’s also just a good thing to do to keep your chimney in excellent, clean condition. With a clear chimney, your fireplace will work efficiently, safely, and effectively to keep your home warm this winter.
5. Stock Up on Winter Essentials
There’s nothing worse than being unprepared for a sudden snowstorm or power outage in the middle of winter. Stock up on all the winter essentials so that you’re ready for anything this winter. Some important items to buy include canned goods, dry food, flashlight batteries, bottled water, matches, a first-aid kit, a shovel, rock salt, and extra bedding and blankets. It also wouldn’t hurt to a get new board game or deck of cards in case you’re snowed in for the day!
What are some ways that you prepare your home for winter? Comment below to share your tips and ideas!