Preparing Your Home For Winter

Winter can be a harsh time of year for your home. But there are things you can do to make your home more energy efficient, safer, and more comfortable for the whole family.

Keeping your home warm is a top priority, so take the time to complete some basic winterization tasks this fall. Then, you can enjoy a cozy, warm and safe winter.

Inspect Your Roof

The roof is an essential part of any home, and its condition can affect a lot more than just how well it protects you from the elements. The roof needs to be maintained on a regular basis in order to function properly and last as long as possible.

To make sure that your roof is in good shape, you need to perform a thorough inspection. A professional roof inspector can spot any issues that you may have overlooked, and they can also recommend repairs or replacement if needed.

If you want to do a visual inspection of your roof yourself, be sure to wear a pair of binoculars or get on a ladder to take a closer look. But be careful, because a ladder can easily damage your shingles if you climb on them without care!

Another way to inspect your roof is using thermal imaging. This method uses infrared light to detect temperature differences, letting you know which areas of your roof are hot and which ones are cold.

Whether you’re looking for insulation problems or something else, thermal imaging can help you pinpoint what you need to fix. This technology is simple, easy to use, and can save you time and money in the long run.

Performing a roof inspection is an essential part of preparing your home for winter. Having a properly functioning roof will ensure that you and your family stay warm and safe all winter long.

Inspect Your Gutters

Gutters are a crucial part of a home’s drainage system, diverting water away from the foundation and protecting siding, fascia, and other home components from damage. They are also an essential component of maintaining the value of your home.

The best way to ensure your gutters remain in good condition is to inspect them on a regular basis. If you don’t do this, however, your gutters could end up damaged and failing, leading to serious problems down the road.

When inspecting your gutters, look for signs of rotting, cracks, gaps, and pooling. These all indicate that something is wrong with the system.

If you notice that the gutters are angled in such a way that water pools rather than flows to the downspout, this may be a sign that the slope is inadequate. In such cases, you will need to reposition the hangers or spikes so that they create a more substantial slope directed towards the downspout.

Likewise, if you see that the hangers or spikes on your gutters are loose, this can be a sign that the system is not anchored to the exterior of your home. In such cases, you may need to reattach the hangers or replace them.

If you have a home with metal gutters, it’s a good idea to have these inspected by professionals before winter arrives. This will help to prevent major repairs and expensive structural damage.

Inspect Your Windows

When it comes to preparing your home for winter, your windows are an essential part of the process. They provide a beautiful view of the outdoors and they also protect your home from unwanted air, moisture and pests. They need regular inspection and maintenance to ensure they continue to function properly.

Inspect your window frames & sashes for signs of rotting, cracks or other structural issues. Rotted wood can cause mold to grow, which presents a health risk and can also result in water damage in the interior of your home.

You can also check the seals that keep the glass together and prevent cold air from getting in. Failed seals cause condensation to form between the panes of glass on double-paned windows. If this occurs, the window can lose its energy efficiency benefits from argon, krypton or Low-E films.

If the window seals are leaking, you may be able to fix it by replacing them with more efficient ones. This is an excellent way to save money on your heating bills and it can be done without having to replace the whole window.

Another easy and affordable way to prepare your home for winter is to inspect the weatherstripping around the windows and doors. If there are gaps, caulking will close them and keep the cold out. You can also do a DIY energy audit to find other areas that could be allowing drafts to get in.

Inspect Your Doors

Preparing your home for winter is essential to protecting yourself and your family from the harsh elements. Inspecting your home’s exterior can help lower your energy costs and prevent expensive damage from ice, snow, and wind.

One of the most important components of any home is its doors. They are designed to secure your belongings, protect you from intruders, and keep out the cold.

Checking the condition and function of all your doors is important to ensure that they work properly. Make sure that they latch properly and that all the hardware is in good working order.

If you notice an unusual noise or rattling when you open and close your door, it might be a sign of a larger problem that needs to be addressed. This could mean something as simple as tightening or lubricating specific pieces, or it may mean that you need to replace a part of the system.

Like all parts of a home, doors can be worn or broken down over time. It’s best to invest in premium replacement doors to improve the quality of your home, save money on energy bills, and keep your family safe during the winter months.

Inspect Your Furnace

A furnace is one of the most important pieces of your home’s heating system. Not only does it provide you with warmth during cold weather, but it also protects your health and safety. Taking the time to inspect your furnace can help to ensure that it works safely and efficiently.

A regular maintenance inspection can help to detect small problems before they snowball into a full-blown breakdown. This can save you money on repairs down the road, and it can also keep your family safe from dangerous conditions like carbon monoxide poisoning or a fire.

Inspect your furnace’s heat exchanger, a tube-shaped metal structure that circulates air and water. It can get rusty or warped over time, which can decrease efficiency and cause leaks that could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Another part of a furnace inspection is checking the exhaust pipe. Make sure the pipe is free from nests and other debris. If it isn’t, you might need to call a technician for repairs.

Lastly, check the fan limit switch. This switch turns off the burner when the temperature is above a certain threshold, preventing over-heating and boosting your energy efficiency.

The best way to prevent problems with your furnace is to schedule regular maintenance with a top-rated licensed pro. During an inspection, a professional will examine all 12 major components of your furnace. They will then fix any issues that they find and ensure that your furnace is operating safely and efficiently.

Inspect Your Chimney

Preparing your home for winter may not be a high priority right now, but it’s important to do so in order to prevent damage from the ice and snow. A little bit of preparation can save you a lot of hassle and stress when it comes time to tackling the winter chill.

The first thing that you should do is inspect your chimney. You should do this before the onset of cold weather to ensure your chimney is in good shape and that it’s safe for you to use.

A certified chimney sweep will take a look at the structure and lining of your chimney to make sure that it’s free of cracks, loose bricks, deterioration or missing mortar. They’ll also look for creosote buildup and other issues that could be dangerous to your home or chimney.

They’ll also examine your chimney cap, which is a metal cover that protects your chimney from animals, rain and snow. A broken or missing chimney cap can cause a buildup of smoke and gases inside the flue that can lead to dangerous conditions such as fires or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Your chimney is engineered to safely eliminate toxic by-products from your house, so it’s vital that you get it inspected by a professional regularly. This way, you can identify any problems and have them fixed before they become a real issue.