4 Simple Ways to Prepare Your Home for Winter Weather
Servicing Your Heating and Cooling System
To prepare your heating and cooling system for winter, you can take a few steps before the cold arrives. One step is to change the air filter in the system. A dirty or clogged filter can reduce the efficiency and air quality in the home.
Another step is to test your thermostat. To save energy, check that the thermostat is working well, and you can program it to heat your home when needed.
Sealing the Drafts
Ensuring that your doors and windows are properly sealed will help prevent any heat loss and prevent drafts inside the home. Does the back door not fit perfectly in its frame? Do you have that one window that always seems to let a little outside air sneak in?
You can reduce drafts by using heavy-duty window film kits. You can also prepare by caulking the window edges.
Another option is to use weatherstripping. Weatherstripping is an adhesive strip or foam that can fill gaps in the window. If you are looking for a simpler option, you can purchase draft stoppers to lay in front of your doors or on windowsills.
Clean Out Gutters
Cleaning out gutters for winter is an essential step in home maintenance. It can be crucial to help prevent damage from water leaks, ice dams, and roof damage. Debris in gutters can stop snowmelt from draining correctly, which can cause water to back up onto your roof and freeze.
This can cause ice dams to form. Ice dams can add significant weight to your gutters, preventing melting snow or ice from draining correctly. It can lead to water backing up on or under your roof. It can cause significant roof damage, leaks, and water damage.
Protecting Water Pipes
As temperatures begin to dip below freezing, it’s important to take precautions to protect your home. Frozen pipes can lead to significant water damage and costly repairs, but a few steps can help minimize the risk. Adding these practices into your seasonal home maintenance routine can help ensure your plumbing remains in good condition throughout the winter months.
To prepare and protect the water pipes for winter, you can let faucets drip slightly during the cold snaps. Opening the doors of kitchen and bathroom cabinets is also a way to prepare them.
This is not a necessary step every night. However, when temperatures drop below freezing or during a cold snap, this helps. This small step is easy to add to your seasonal home maintenance checklist.
These are just a few ways to prepare your home for winter. Looking to take larger steps in seasonal maintenance or home improvement this winter? Whether that involves installing a more efficient furnace, replacing your home’s gutters, or undertaking a new roof installation or improvement, you can finance them with a home equity loan (HELOC) or an unsecured/personal loan from P1FCU here, today.