Tips For Getting Your Home Prepared For Winter

 

 

As the cold weather starts to arrive, every homeowner will start to think about ways in which they can get their home prepared for this tricky period of the year. The freezing conditions, heavy rainfall, harsh winds, snow, and ice can all take their toll on the property and make it hard to stay warm. Fortunately, there are a few excellent ways that you can get your home prepared for the winter so that you can be warm and cozy and not have to worry about lasting damage to the house. Read on for a few ways in which you can get your home ready for the winter.

 

Check The Roof

 

The roof is often what faces the worst of the bad weather and, as such a vital feature, you need to make sure that it is up to the task before the cold sets in. Carefully check the roof for missing, loose or damaged shingles and get these fixed as soon as possible. At this time, it would also be worth checking the caulking around the chimney and air vents and clear your gutters to prevent leaks.

 

Maximize Energy Usage

 

You will, of course, want to use your central heating throughout winter, but this can be expensive, and it is challenging to forecast price for gas so you will want to maximize your energy usage. You can achieve this by purchasing propane in bulk, sealing door and window cracks, getting insulation, lowering your water heater temperature, using a programmable thermostat and changing furnace filters each month.

 

Furnace Servicing

 

It is also an intelligent idea to have your furnace professionally serviced to make sure that there are no issues and that it is running as efficiently as possible. It is a good idea to have this carried out as early as possible before you start relying on it heavily in the middle of winter.

 

Sweep The Chimney

 

A fireplace can be wonderful at this time of the year and a great way to stay warm, but you should never make a fire without having the chimney checked by a professional. They will be able to stop chimney fires and carbon monoxide from entering your home by ensuring that the chimney and vents are clean and operating properly.

 

Pipe Protection

 

The freezing conditions can cause burst and/or frozen pipes which can cause havoc in the house. You can avoid this by protecting pipes with a foam layer (lagging) and also be sure to remove vegetation that is around the pipes as this could also damage them.

Winter can be a difficult time to be a homeowner as you will need to protect the property from the elements while also making sure that you are nice and warm without spending a fortune on energy bills. The above are all important steps to take before winter sets in so that you will not encounter and costly problems that interfere with your comfort during the coldest period of the year, plus they can also help you to stay warm without spending a fortune on gas.

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