Getting Your Home Cold Weather Ready!

As much as we may try to deny it, colder temperatures and winter weather will soon be on their way. Getting your home ready for the change in season can easily be overlooked, but not without negative consequences. By neglecting to winterize your home you will be faced with an expensive spring and lots of repairs to come! We’ve compiled a list of the essential tasks to sustain your home through the frigid winter months. Let us know if you have any other tips!

(1) Furnace

• Use a programmable thermostat. This way when you’re not home you can turn down the temperature and save some money!
• Clean ducts and change filters: your furnace wont function at full capacity with clogged ducts and old filters.
• Ensure cold air returns are not blocked.
• Remove any flammable objects close to your furnace. We don’t want any fires starting!

(2) Water Heater

• Insulate close by water lines.
• Blanket your water heater with fiberglass insulation. This will help keep your water bill down!

(3) Fireplace

• Cap the top of your chimney to keep animals out!
• Close the damper when the fireplace is not in use.
• Get your chimney cleaned by a professional.
• Get your firewood and store it in a dry place so its ready to burn when you need it!

(4) Exterior: Windows and Doors

• Seal any openings to keep cool air out and the heating bill down!
• Replace any cracked windows. This will also have a positive effect on your heating bill.
• Uncover any south-facing windows to let in as much natural warmth as possible.
• Switch out any summer screens in both windows and doors.

(5) Exterior: Landscaping

• Trim tress and other branches that are close to your home and any wires, this will help avoid branches weighed down by snowing and falling on wires or your home.
• Seal driveways, patios and decks!
• Move potted plants indoors, they are usually sensitive and you want to keep them alive!

(6) Roof and Gutter

• Add in extra insulation in the attic.
• Replace worn out roof shingles to avoid them to completely disintegrate and cause leaks!
• Clean out the gutters to remove any leaves or other objects that have snuck in and gotten trapped!