Do you have a winter home maintenance checklist? If not, getting some essential jobs ticked off your list before the cold weather hits home can help you avoid some of the common pitfalls that winter brings due to increased stresses and strains on your house. Start off by getting the best snowblower for the money, this will get things rolling.
But what exactly needs to be on your winter home maintenance checklist?
Heating System
The first thing you need to do is to get your heating system checked out. With the increased use expected in the cold weather, making sure your heating system is up to the job can avoid paying emergency plumber callout fees if damaged. Plus, this is likely to be a busy time of the year for repair services so that prices could increase along with callout wait times.
However, heating systems might only work properly if all of your doors and windows are in good working order. That is, your doors and windows have not deteriorated to the point where heat cannot be conserved inside your home. In fact, due to the wear and tear on your windows, it may leak outside. You can either weatherstrip your windows or, if you are concerned that it will not work, you could look for replacement windows in Richmond and contact a professional to get it installed. That way, you can nip the problem in the bud!
Check Water Pipes
Freezing weather causes stagnant water to freeze in pipes. Frozen water expands, causing damage to or cracking of the lines in the process. As a result of the ice melting and the pipe bursting, your home becomes inundated with water. Pipes that are close to the exterior of your property, like outdoor faucets, pipes in an unheated garage, or swimming pool supply lines, are the most vulnerable. So drain any outdoor pipes and faucets to remove the risk of this happening, keep your thermostat at a stable temperature, and warm up pipes indoors to allow the heat to travel through to exterior pipes. If need be, you should take stock of the situation in the house, if the pipes are in a bad condition, contact a repiping company who can get your pipes fixed and maintained.
Storm Prep
A severe winter storm can keep you confined to your home for several days. Prepare for a power outage by stocking up on wood for the fireplace, gas for the snowblower, canned goods, and bottled water. Batteries, a radio, a first-aid kit, and any medications you might require should all be in your emergency supplies kit. Check on your neighbors to see if they need assistance shoveling out their driveways (a little camaraderie in a storm goes a long way).
Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
The United States Fire Administration has determined that heating is the root cause in 27 percent of all building fires during the winter months. As a result, check that all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home are operational. Additionally, smoke alarms should be installed in every room of your home, including the hallways. Home maintenance should always include testing the batteries in all of your alarms once a month, so make sure to include this on your home maintenance checklist.
Check for Air Leaks
Implement your home maintenance checklist as soon as possible to save money on heating costs throughout the winter months. Additionally, look for air leaks around windows and doors, such as cracks in caulking or weatherstripping, and seal them. Additionally, caulk and weatherstripping should be replaced as needed. Besides that, you need to make sure that your windows are in good condition and can withstand stormy weather to the maximum extent. If your house has older windows, then it might be a good idea to have them replaced with help from Seattle Windows Doors companies (or reliable ones in your area). Ensure that you get quality windows (and doors if need be) to protect your home from potential storms.
Reverse Ceiling Fans
If you have ceiling fans, a switch should allow the blades to rotate in a clockwise direction. During the colder months, turning the blades in a clockwise direction can help push heated air downward. Rooms with high ceilings are made more pleasant by performing this home improvement activity.