While the alluring scent of pumpkin continues to permeate just about everywhere, we’d like you to take a minute to think about a couple of months from now. Specifically, is your home ready for winter?
We’re not talking about ensuring that you’re stocked up on cocoa and firewood, although these should be on the list. We’re thinking more about whether or not your pipes and plumbing will withstand the freeze, or if your house is properly insulated against below-freezing temperatures. Essentially, we want you to think about winterizing your home.
There are many solutions to make sure that your house is warm, cozy and above all, safe, during the winter months. Let’s look at a few ways to do just that.
Keeping the cold out
While you may be planning on spending most of the upcoming chilly days warmly ensconced in your home, you need to make sure that your home’s interior is indeed warm.
You should start by having a look at your doors and windows and checking that there are no cracks or small gaps present. This would allow the cold air to filter into your home and have you reaching for that extra blanket in no time. Services like window caulking will have those gaps sealed up in no time. You may also want to invest in storm windows depending on where you live.
While you’re outside…
When it comes to your roof and gutters, prevention is definitely better than cure. There are few things worse than getting up on the roof while its snowing or raining to replace a roof shingle.
Rather do these replacements before winter strikes. In addition, you should ensure that your roof is strong enough to handle the weight of snow settling on it. You should also check and clean out your gutters of any lingering debris from the fall months.
Embrace insulation
In this case, let’s start with your pipes as the frozen variety is no joke when it comes to winter. Exposed pipes first need to be covered with electrical heating tape and can then be insulated.
Next, inspect the rest of the home to ensure that you have ample insulation throughout the house to keep that warm air inside and the cold air outside where it belongs.
Check the fireplace
Depending on your location, you may need to do this just after the end of summer as those fall days can bring a definite chill in the air.
Check that the chimney hasn’t become a home to birds or other small creatures during the warmer months. It is also a good idea to have your chimney professionally cleaned. Thereafter, you can test if the smoke is indeed being directed straight up the chimney and not into your living room.
Perhaps most important is to make sure that there are no cracks in the mortar joints or the actual firebrick. A stray spark could cause untold damage if it spreads to the interior of the wall.
If you would like to find out how IncePector Handyman can help winterize your home, simply give us a call today!
References
https://www.thespruce.com/easy-home-winterizing-checklist-1824721
https://www.thebalance.com/tips-for-winterizing-your-home-1798327
Images courtesy of Pixabay.
