As winter approaches, it is important to take the necessary steps to prepare your home for the cold weather. By following these tips, you can keep your home warm and cozy all season long.
Clean your gutters
This should be done every season, but right before winter is the most critical time. If your area gets a lot of snow, your home will have to bear that additional weight. If your gutters get too much weight on them, they could be pulled from your home.
But perhaps the most important reason is that if you don’t clean your gutters, your home could get water damage. As snow and ice melt and refreeze overnight, the damage could cost you thousands of dollars. Make sure the water has somewhere to go when it melts so it is kept well away from your house.
Recaulk your windows and doors
Recaulk your doors and windows every year to prevent water damage and heat loss. A caulk gun and tube exterior caulk are inexpensive and you can easily get the job done in a single afternoon.
You should only caulk the outside perimeter of your windows and doors molding. Use exterior silicone caulk because it is less affected by extreme temperatures — meaning it won’t shrink and expand as the seasons change.
Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch, use it to run the fan’s blades in a clockwise direction after you turn on your heat. Energy Star says the fan will produce an updraft and push down into the room heated air from the ceiling
This is especially helpful in rooms with high ceilings, and it might even allow you to turn down your thermostat by a degree or two for greater energy savings.
Check Your Snowblower
Don’t wait for blustery winds and flurries to get your snow removal equipment in order. If you haven’t run your snowblower in a while, you’ll probably want to change the motor oil, spark plug, and air filter before firing it up. Once that basic maintenance is out of the way, turn it on to ensure that everything is running smoothly. You should also lubricate the chute, levers, and linkages throughout the machine so that everything turns easily once you’re removing snow.