Winter is Here!

Winter can be one of the harshest seasons on your home due to the extreme elements, especially if you are not prepared. To help you and your home tackle this season head on, we have compiled a list of items to help you get your home ready for the winter.

1. Not my pipes! Low temperatures can wreak havoc on your home’s pipes- especially if they are not properly insulated. Improper insulation is the gateway for a cracked pipe. Make sure your pipes are covered in spots where water tends to settle.

2. Speaking of insulation… Check your attic space for proper insulation. This also gives you the opportunity to look for any unwanted guests (mice, squirrels, etc) and exterminate them before the cold hits.

3. Ahh, nice and toasty. Name something better than walking into a warm home after being outside. Servicing your heater can help you make sure you have a nice, warm, place to go home to. Calling a HVAC contractor out to service your system is a great idea. If you’re looking for a quick way to maintain your system, change your air filters!

4. I swear I just cleaned these out! Gutters- you can’t live with them and you can’t live without them. Having clean gutters has major benefits as you enter the winter season. With all the fall foliage clogging them up, you’ll want to make sure they are nice and clean for winter. Pro tip: clean your gutters after a very dry period by using a leaf blower. This will get all those leaves and small twigs out in no time!

5. See you in the spring, old friend. Be sure to unscrew your water hose and cover the hose bib (the part of the hose connection that sticks out from the house). Residual water left in the hose can freeze and cause unnecessary wear. Placing a cap over the hose bib will slow the heat loss from the pipe.

6. Nobody wants to wake up with frostbite. Save your heater some life and make sure your windows are properly sealed. The cold winter air can easily seep through cracks in the caulking or weatherstripping. Replacing the caulk and/or weatherstripping is a great way to make sure you stay nice and warm.

7. Back up, Terry! Put those ceiling fans in reverse! Simply switching the direction of the ceiling fan blades to be clockwise can push heated air down. This will make rooms with higher ceilings much more comfortable.

8. Watch the cracks. Cracks in the sidewalk that aren’t sealed can expand in the wintertime when water freezes in them. This will simply make smaller cracks visible, causing a bigger problem down the road. Caulk can be found in any hardware department and installed easily by the homeowner.

Making sure these areas are covered can help you smoothly transition into the colder season with ease. When in doubt, call a professional for help. If you need recommendations, give us a call for our preferred vendor list!