Now is the Time to Winterize Your Home

There are several things you can do to keep your property safe and sound before cold weather hits.

Winter will come sooner than you know it, and with it, the potential for maintenance or safety issues around your home.  Autumn is the perfect time to assess your home’s readiness for the cold weather.

“You should wrap up any outdoor work in the fall,” says Family Handyman.  Here, learn that there are several winterizing chores you can finish up in a weekend:

·         Check your furnace.  When was your furnace last tuned up?  Contact your HVAC pro to perform annual maintenance and cleaning of your furnace to ensure efficiency and safety.

·         Examine the plumbing.  Make sure any pipes in unheated crawlspaces or a chilly basement are wrapped with insulation to avoid burst pipes.

·         Eliminate drafts.  Make sure weather stripping around doors is sound; replace it if necessary.

·         Clear attic vents and consider installing a rooftop heat cable to ward off ice dams.

·         Clean the gutters of leaves and other debris to ensure melting snow has a place to go.

·         Add more insulation in places like crawl spaces; it “can pay huge dividends in energy savings.” 

Snowbirds seeking warmer climes over the winter months may need to take extra precautions to keep their vacant home in tip-top shape.  Insurance company Travelers offers these practical home prep suggestions for those who will be away:

·         Arrange for snow removal, install exterior motion lights, ensure alarm systems work, and consider deadbolt locks and security hinges to deter thieves and keep your house from seeming unoccupied.

·         Cut down dead trees or limbs that could fall on the house.

·         Unplug appliances like the stove and microwave; clean and defrost refrigerators and freezers—wipe them dry and keep their doors open to prevent mildew.

·         Deter pests: check for openings rodents could enter and make sure the fireplace flue is closed; chimney caps, too, can prevent birds or bats from entering.

·         Set the temperature to at least 55 degrees and leave the furnace running to keep the pipes from freezing.

Other tips from Travelers: forward your mail, ask a neighbor to watch over your property to alert you of anything suspicious, and secure any valuables.

Jack Frost will soon be nipping at your nose, but whether you’re in residence this winter or not, your diligence and dedication to winterizing your home will not only keep you warm and cozy, but also keep your property safe and sound.

Post authored by Lora Bray.

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