Colder temperatures are coming and snow is in the forecast. With colder temperatures comes a myriad of issues to befall on your home and yard. As old man winter is heading toward Chicagoland, we at Reliable Home Improvement want to make sure you take some easy steps to prepare your home for winter weather.
Here are the top 10 ways to winterize your home before you hunker down for Winter:
- Up your energy efficiency. Repair that drafty window by adding insulation or caulk to keep to cold air from coming in. This will work wonders in keeping your heating costs down.
- Install storm windows and doors. Beyond sealing up drafts in your windows and doors, replace the drafty screens with storm windows and doors for an additional layer of heat protection.
- Clean out the gutters and chimneys. This is the perfect time to make sure all those falling leaves are out of the gutters. Clogged gutters can be the root cause of flooded basements. Similarly, make sure you clean out the chimney before its prime season. Chimneys should be cleaned and inspected on an annual basis.
- Divert water away from the house. Beyond just cleaning the gutters, make sure that any water flow out of the gutters is 3-4 feet away from the house. Use gutter extensions to help with this.
- Inspect the furnace or boiler. Avoid the dreadful feeling of the furnace going on during a winter storm. Many heating companies have annual services to inspect your heating system every year before the first cold snap to make sure it’s clean and everything is working well.
- Reverse Ceiling Fans. The same appliance that keeps you cool in the summer can also help to warm up your house in the winter. Reverse the flow of the blades to spin clockwise. This creates an updraft, helping to push the hot air back down.
- Prepare Your Plumbing. Check that your outdoor faucets are drained including garden hoses. Inside, note any pipes that have been known to freeze and consider using heat tape to keep them warm. Finally, should a pipe burst, make sure you know exactly how to turn the water off at the source.
- Stock up on the essentials before a storm. Make sure you have plenty of salt or that the snow blower is ready to go before the first big snowstorm.
- Put away the outdoor furniture. Clean up and either cover or store all outdoor patio furniture including the grill.
- Check your roof. Avoid costly ice dams by having a professional evaluate the state of your roof to make sure if can withstand a winter storm. They will also check for any leaks that can lead to ice dams.
As the colder months are coming fast. Take these few steps to make sure you home is in the best shape possible to make it through the winter.
Contact Reliable Home Improvement for any remodel projects.