Winters are here, you’ve taken out all your woolens, and you’re ready to fight the cold. But have you ever thought of winterizing your house for the sweater months! Raking leaves, planting bulbs, installing storm windows and cleaning gutters are telltale rituals but that’s not all, you must do a little extra to keep your house safe in the icy months.
a) Plumbing- Be your own plumber from time to time. If you live in colder climates, make sure your house pipes are not vulnerable to thawing and freezing, causing the pipes to burst and your house water supply being damaged. To make it weatherproof, shut off your supply of water to outdoor spigots and sprinkler and then drain them. Also protect you’re unused a/c and coolers during winters by covering them to protect them from the harsh cold weather or the water sprinklers you place outside.
b) Chimneys- If you plan to enjoy your winters by sitting by the fireplace, make sure the chimney vent is clean and no critters have made themselves at home there. Call a chimney cleaner to inspect your chimney and clean out soot and other hazardous debris.
c) Seal leaks- Check your roof for missing shingles and gaps around your chimneys or other openings. Once you’ve identified areas from where water could intrude or ice could form, apply weather stripping there. Shoring up any leaks will provide a more comfortable and hassle free winter
d) Home energy audit- A ‘home energy audit’ is a useful assessment that helps you save money in the colder months. An audit helps you to know where you’re losing energy and it recommends where you can save thus making your home energy efficient throughout the season in spite of heavy usage of geysers, heaters and other electrical appliances. This can involve anything from installing additional insulation to replacing poorly performing appliances.
In the end also don’t forget to clear overhanging tree limbs over the corners of your house that can harm roofs, porch railings, decks and even your cars.
