The temperature is dropping, which means it’s time to break out warm winter sweaters and your favorite hot cocoa mix. While you may be ready for the cozy winter months, your house probably isn’t. Winterizing your home is an important part of your cold weather routine, as it can save you time and money down the line. We’ve made a list of some things you can do to prepare your home for the change in season:
1. Clean out your gutters. Clogged gutters lead to standing water, which can cause water damage to your home’s interior and exterior. Autumn tends to fill gutters with leaves and other debris, so it’s important to
clear out your gutter system after the fall months. Your gutters need to be in good condition during the winter to handle melting ice and snow.
2. Check on your chimney. There’s nothing better than curling up by the fireplace on a cold winter evening, but this could be dangerous if you don’t properly take care of your chimney. Chimneys should be inspected every year, and the inspector will let you know if cleaning is necessary. There is no hard rule on how often your chimney should be swept, as everyone uses their fireplace differently, but experts will typically recommend a cleaning if they find a 1/8-inch of deposit in the chimney. Make an appointment with a chimney inspector as soon as possible, considering this is their busy season.
3. Drain your sprinklers. Freezing water can lead to cracked pipes, which is a costly repair. To protect your sprinklers from damage, drain the water out of your system. You can do this yourself or hire a professional. There are
general guides to the process, but each system is different, so be sure to consult your instruction manual before attempting anything yourself. Bonus tip: In addition to draining your sprinklers, turn off all exterior faucets to protect those pipes from bursting as well.
4. Get your furnace inspected. A broken furnace on a freezing day can turn a winter wonderland into a nightmare. To ensure your furnace is working properly and safely,
experts recommend getting your furnace inspected by a professional annually or biannually. Being proactive about furnace maintenance can prevent problems that would arise later in the season, saving you the headache of dealing with a broken heating system as well as the rush fees required to get it fixed in a timely manner.
5. Trim your trees. Ice and snow can weigh down tree branches, causing them to snap. A fallen tree branch can seriously damage part of your home or car, but trimming branches around your home and driveway can prevent such accidents.
Following these steps can help keep your house safe this winter. If you have any tips for winterizing your home, leave them in the comments below!