How to Prepare Your House for Winter
by Guest on Jun 21, 2016
.Winter can cause damage to your house if you aren’t properly prepared. Preparing yourself for winter is simple. All most people need are gloves, scarves, and a heavy jacket. Making sure your house is ready for the winter weather involves other tactics.
Before winter overtakes your area, it is best to create a checklist of everything that needs to be done before the first approaching cold snap. You should be prepared for the cold, not just snow. You may wonder why preparing your house for winter matters. Your heating bill will skyrocket in a house that isn’t ready. Here are some things you should include on your list.
1. Seal Any Leaks
Drafts during cold winter will make your heating bill increase. Check all of your windows for gaps in the caulking. If you find any, this is a simple fix; you can re-caulk any gaps.
Weather strips around your door can be popping up. These wear out over time from the constant use. If they are worn out, most hardware stores sell replacements. Ideally, you want to keep warm in and cold air out.
If you have pipes that run through any exterior wall, place caulking or insulation around the entry points. This prevents cold air from seeping into the house. Cold air will find any crack to escape. This means your heating system will have to work harder to ensure your house stays a comfortable temperature.
2. Attend to the Fireplace and Heating Systems
Fireplaces can need cleaned by professionals before wintertime. The vents can need cleaned. Without proper care, fires can start due to chimneys or lead to carbon monoxide creeping into the house.
Your furnace can need some care before winter. Furnaces need cleaned yearly because dirt, dust and sediments can build up over time. This means your system won’t work as efficiently as it should. Filters should be changed every few months. A cleaned furnace requires less work on the system and reduces future costs.
Image Credits bairli1, CC0 1.0
3. Prepare the Plumbing
When the garden season comes to an end, it is important to drain the water from any outdoor faucets. Remove the garden hose and place a cap over the exposed drain. The best place to store a garden hose is inside; the cold weather can damage it. If you have lawn irrigation system, it will need drained. This will help prevent leaks and freezing.
If you have any pipes that are prone to freezing, it is important to use heat tape around them. If you experience any extremely cold days, it is a good idea to let a faucet drip or slowly run. This prevents pipes from freezing. If you experience a frozen pipe, call an emergency plumber immediately. A frozen pipe can burst which will result in an expensive repair.
4. Winter Supplies
Once winter begins, you will need supplies to deal with the snow and ice. Too much moisture and freezing temperatures can lead to more cracks in concrete. Every house needs snow shovels and salt to melt the ice off of sidewalks and driveways. Some people prefer to have a snow blower. Either way, figure out a plan for snow removal ahead of time.
5. Clean the Gutters
Over the year, gutters can fill up with leaves, dirt and debris. This can cause water to back up which can damage the roof, siding and trim of a house. If you aren’t afraid of heights, this is an easy fix during a pleasant afternoon. If you feel the house is too tall, there are plenty of companies who provide this service for a minimal fee.
Popular Articles
Three Places to Spend Money on the Exterior of Your Home
When you have the exterior of your home remodeled, you are investing, time, energy and convenience into the project and you want to make sure that...
73725 Views
When to Use a Brush, Roller or Sponge Brush
Brushes are a good choice for painting trim and woodwork. They are also useful for cutting in the edges around the top and bottom edges and corners...
67708 Views
Homemade Headboards-Make an Upholstered or Wooden Headboard
Homemade headboards can add a lot of personality to any bedroom. They can be coordinated with existing furniture and room decor or they can be the...
63583 Views
Creating a Cottage Kitchen with Bead Board
Kitchen decor can range from modern and bold to elegant and elaborate by using strategic kitchen pieces. One of the most popular decorating trends...
43641 Views
Gas Fireplace Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Follow these steps for diagnosing and troubleshooting Gas Fireplaces repairs. For the average DIYer, this may seem intimidating, depending on the...
27101 Views
Latest Articles
Navigating Singapore's Property Regulations: A Guide for Foreign Investors
Singapore's property market has been attracting foreign investors for many years, thanks to its stable economy, strong legal system, and...
on Mar 22, 2023
What Truck Size Do I Need to Move a 3-Bedroom House
Moving to a new home can be a complex and stressful process, but with the help of the right truck size, you can make it a smooth and seamless...
on Feb 13, 2023
Five Tips to Take Better Care of Your Basement Insulation
Basement waterproofing is an essential part of home maintenance, as it helps to protect the basement from moisture, flooding, and other...
on Feb 12, 2023
Homeowner In The UK? Here's Why You Need to Know about Rainwater Drainage Systems
In the United Kingdom, there is an average of around 1,200 millimeters of rainfall annually. Keeping rainwater out of your home and away from your...
on Feb 2, 2023
What are the Advantages of a Metal Roof
Metal roofing is durable and beautiful, allowing a home to stand out from others with conventional tiled roofs. A metal coating can last a...
on Feb 1, 2023
Featured Articles
What Type of Licensed Contractor Should You Hire?
on Feb 28, 2017
Hire Contractors / Estimates

Looking for a specialty project? There are many types of contractors available for your home improvement needs. Finding the right type of...
Sponsored Articles
Navigating Singapore's Property Regulations: A Guide for Foreign Investors
on Mar 22, 2023
Real Estate / Finance

Singapore's property market has been attracting foreign investors for many years, thanks to its stable economy, strong legal system, and...
Real Estate Investment for the Next Generation
on Oct 18, 2022
Real Estate / Finance

Investing in real estate is something that people have been doing for a long time. Most people invest in a home, so they can stay at the home. This...
Real Estate Investment for Future Generations
on Mar 14, 2022
Real Estate / Finance

Purchasing a home is not simply a financial commitment. It is also an excellent way to start accumulating your wealth. Your home is also a...
Can I Sell My House with a Leaky Roof?
on Oct 28, 2021
Real Estate / Finance

The answer to this query is YES. It is possible to sell a house with a leaking roof, but it's always essential to evaluate some factors before...
Actions
Top Categories
- Garden / Landscaping / Patio — 260
- Kitchen / Bathrooms — 239
- Real Estate / Finance — 193
- Appliance / Repair — 185
- Interior Design / Decor — 183
- HVAC / Air Conditioning — 147
- Cleaning / Maintenance — 143
- Improvements / Remodeling — 131
- Plumbing / Basements — 118
- Floors / Tile / Hardwood — 115
- Doors / Garages — 113
- Safety / Security — 112
Articles Archive
More DIY Articles
Carpet Care: How to Repair Burn Marks
New carpets are lovely and can completely change the look of a room, but in time they can become stained and worn, even with proper care. Carpets...
4 Budget Friendly Ways to Change Your Cabinets
Is your kitchen outdated and unappealing? If so you definitely want to consider updating your kitchen cabinets. We will discuss some...
Enjoying the Convenience of French Door Refrigerators
French door refrigerators are an exciting option for convenience in modern kitchens. They provide easy access to the foods families use most, and...
Tulip Planting Guide
The gems of bulb gardening are tulips. Tulips offer a wide array of colors and a variety of flower shapes and sizes. Flower colors include pink,...
Grading Landscapes - Part 3
Healthy soil is not an inert, lifeless substance - it's full of microscopic life forms which are essential for the development of plant life....