Now Is the Best Time to Prepare for Cold Weather: Tips to Get Your Home Ready
Fall is a great time to prepare for the cold weather that is just around the corner. Taking some simple steps right now will ensure that your home is ready to face the winter.
It is easy to prepare for cold weather by relying a few easy to follow suggestions. One of the best ways to avoid any surprises this winter when it comes to your home is to prepare for cold weather and get your house in order.
Your Fall Check List
Fall is a great time to start making those repairs that you put off because of the summer heat. It is imperative that you address any issues that can get worse during the cold winter months. One of the best ways to prepare for cold weather is to make all the major systems in your home can get through the winter.
Let’s start at the top. How is your roof doing? The fall is a great time to contact your local roofing company and have an inspection done. Any minor repairs can be made before the winter sets in and the snow and ice starts piling up and turning any minor issues into big problems.
A residential roof contractor can quickly evaluate your roof make any roof repair suggestions, and get your roof in tip-top shape for the winter. Your roof is one of the major systems in your home and provides important protections. Your roof has to be a priority.
If you have not had a roof inspection lately, it is a good time to get one done as you prepare for cold weather. Having a roof inspection done will give you the advantage of early intervention in case there are problems that need to be addressed. Of course, if you get a pass on your inspection then you can move forward and prepare for cold weather with peace of mind.
If you are a business owner, you may want to consider contacting a commercial roofing company, that can do an inspection on your commercial property as well as you prepare for cold weather. Why not kill two birds with one stone, and get both properties inspected to prepare for cold weather? As a matter of fact, you should make it a part of your annual fall maintenance activities for both your properties.
Taking care of your roof can help to extend the life of your roof whether it is at home or at your business property. With a little TLC you can avoid unexpected issues that can be costly and that can damage your property.
How’s Your HVAC Doing?
Your heating unit has to be ready for the winter. Now is the time to do all the HVAC checks to prepare for the cold weather. You do not want to find out there is a problem when the really cold weather sets in. It is far easier to deal with any HVAC issues before the heating season gets into full swing.
This is the time you need to know if a new HVAC installation service is going to be necessary. Calling on a professional to do a check-up for your HVAC is a great way to ensure you will not be stranded in the middle of the winter with no heat.
If your system is 10 years or older it is vital that you have an HVAC specialist come out and perform a check and a tune-up just to be sure that your system can make it unencumbered through the winter. Of course, your local HVAC company will have options if your system does need to be replaced that are likely far more energy-efficient than what you are working with now.
There are clear advantages to having an HVAC tune-up and check to prepare for cold weather including:
- Extending the life of your current system. A little TLC can go a long way in helping extend the life of your HVAC.
- It can save you money. It is always best to address any small issues before they turn into big problems. Having your HVAC tuned up not only ensures everything is well cared for but it can reveal any potential issues early on which can prevent catastrophic damage down the road.
- It is critical maintenance. Going without heat is not an option. Getting your HVAC in shape now will ensure that you are not trying to get repairs done during the height of the season when wait times may be long.
Now is the time to prepare for cold weather and make sure you can stay warm throughout the winter. Call your local HVAC company today and schedule a check-up.
Give Your Plumbing Some Attention
When you prepare for cold weather, you want to be sure that you give your plumbing the attention that it needs. Leaky pipes should never be left without repair any time of year, but it is especially important that they are repaired before freezing temperatures can cause some serious damage.
If you are not handy with a pipe wrench contact local plumbing contractors that can come out and manage any necessary repairs. Both indoor plumbing repairs and outdoor plumbing repairs need to be addressed before the winter.
You can do some of the work on your own:
- Disconnect water hoses from the outdoor spigots. Don’t leave your water hose connected. Standing water inside the hose will freeze up and cause the hose to burst. Additionally, if the hose freezes at the connection end it can damage the spigot.
- Insulate the water spigot. You can buy a cover for the hose outlet, or you can fashion one from some old towels and some duct tape. It does not have to be an elaborate setup to protect. You just want to be sure that you have an added layer of protection against the cold. An unprotected spigot can freeze into the house and cause the pipe to burst.
- Insulate any exposed pipes. Any pipes that are coming into the home should be insulated. Any pipes that are exposed in the basement or the garage should also be insulated.
Connecting with a trusted plumber and doing part of the plumbing work on your own, will ensure that your plumbing stays safe and functional during the winter.
Other Repairs to Prepare for Cold Weather
There are other repairs you should get out of the way before winter. If your garage buildings are not fully functional because of door problems, now is a great time to address the problem. There is nothing worse than having a garage that you cannot use with confidence because of a faulty door, especially on those cold winter mornings and evenings.
A quick call to a garage company that specializes in garage door spring repairs and other repairs will get your garage in usable condition again. How much easier will it be to pull right into or right out of the garage on those cold gloomy winter days?
In the spring, summer, and even the fall it is not so bad keeping the vehicles parked in the driveway, but in the winter it can be a real hassle. Consider the amount of time you will have to spend on clearing away the ice and snow off your vehicle, and of course, the damage that causes to your vehicle. Get the garage door fixed, and never worry about what the temperature will be in the morning. You can hang up your ice scraper for good.
Beautifying Your Home
Unlike the spring, where most activities are geared toward getting your house ready for a summer of fun, the fall is the time we start thinking about making some changes to make our homes more comfortable for our long winter naps.
Simple things like hiring residential painting services to add a fresh coat of paint both indoors and out can make your home a more welcoming environment but that is not all it offers. Paint can help to insulate your home as well.
Doing a little redecorating with some new paint is an easy way to add some wow to your space, and help to keep it warmer in the winter. Professional painters can get the job done quickly. With the winter holidays right around the corner, painting your home in the fall is a great way to get ready for the celebrations.
The fall is a great time to get those jobs out of the way that you have been putting off that improve your home, and your lifestyle. For example, contacting an asphalt paving contractor can help you to get your driveway in great shape to showcase all those holiday decorations. When you prepare for cold weather it does not all have to be about fixing and repairing, some of the work can budget can be dedicated to improving your property as well.
With a little paint and some upgrades you will feel a lot better about being stuck in the house for those long winter months when it is just too cold to be outside. Prepare for the cold weather by making your home into a space that you love being in.
Winterizing Your Home
Winterizing your home is one of the best ways to improve energy efficiency and make your home more comfortable. Of course, “winterizing” your home delivers benefits year-round. There are simple things that you can do that will help to keep your house nice and toasty this winter without costing you a fortune.
Take a quick look around and identify any window sashes that need caulking and then get out the caulk gun. A bead of caulk can help to keep elements outside where they belong. Settling can cause cracks around your window frame.
While you have the caulking gun out go ahead and caulk around door frames as well. Little cracks can mean the loss of a lot of heat. Caulk those cracks up and keep the heat in. Invest in some weather stripping for around doors and windows. Weatherstripping deteriorates with age, it is important that you periodically change it out.
While caulking your window and door frames be sure to make note of any of your home security sensors that need attention. Carefully caulk around sensors and equipment that is hung outside to ensure you do not damage the system.
Another energy thief that most people do not realize is present in their home is the electrical outlets. If you take your hand and place it over the electrical outlet you can often feel cold coming through the outlet.
Typically there is no insulation behind the electrical outlet cover. You can buy foam insulation inserts from your local home improvement store. Simple unscrew the outlet cover and insert the foam, then screw the cover back on.
It is a simple thing but it can make a big difference. You do not have to do a whole home retrofit insulation to make a difference. Of course, if you have the money to invest, a whole home insulation retrofit is not a bad idea.
Prepare for Cold Weather by Stocking Up On These Items Now
There are a few things more certain than the fact that the seasons will change. When you prepare for cold weather, you want to make a list of the things that you normally use during the cold weather seasons and get ahead of the crowds by shopping early and stocking up.
For example, if you live in a region where snow and ice is a guarantee, then stock up on ice melting products for the driveway and sidewalks. Make sure your shovels are all in good condition. If you burn wood for heat, get your wood stacked early on.
Why is it important to stock up on cold-weather products now? There is nothing better than being prepared for the cold weather, and it can be really hard to find products that you use for the cold weather once the weather turns really cold.
It is far better to have to much wood to burn than it is to have too little. Ice melting products do not have an expiration date so if you have extra leftovers over you will be prepared for the next winter. Another tip is to buy fuel early in the season when it is cheaper. Ideally, filling up the tank in late summer would be the least expensive, but getting your order in before the middle of fall can also save you some money.
Depending where you live you may be looking at many months of cold weather, make sure you prepare for cold weather now, can save you some stress, and help to keep costs down.
