We have seen a glimpse of cooler temps recently, so now is a great time to start thinking about if your home is ready for the cooler weather. Below are some great tips to help you prepare!
Protect your pipes! We all know water expands as it freezes so if water is inside your pipes- it will crack and burst. Pipes also can burst when pressure builds up behind a chunk of ice, which is why it’s a good idea to leave faucets dripping in very cold weather- especially those that have an outside wall. Either way, a burst pipe can cause massive damage. Take a few steps to winterize your pipes and avoid a potentially bigger problem. Empty water faucets completely, disconnect and store outdoor hoses and cover outdoor faucets with foam insulators. These are a few items that will help protect those pipes!
Winterize lawn equipment! After a summer of yard work, gas-powered equipment such as mowers, edgers, and weed eaters can all benefit from service before being stored for the winter. This basic checklist will get you started, but be sure to check the owner’s manual for any specific requirements for your machines. Empty all of the fuel as leaving gas in them over the winter can hurt them more than help. You can remove what’s left with a meat baster, then run the engines until they stop. Clean the machine of oil and yard debris, and sharpen the blades as needed. Store them for winter in a garage or covered storage shed where they’re safe from the weather.
Seal windows and doors! Gaps around windows and doors can make it tough to keep your house warm in winter due to cold air coming in. You can easily caulk around windows and install new weather stripping around doors as needed. This minor and inexpensive task can help you save on heating costs. If your home is older, you may have inefficient single-pane windows or un-insulated doors. Consider upgrading to double- or even triple-pane windows and insulated doors and garage doors to boost the energy efficiency of your home.
Check the chimney! There’s nothing like the glow and warmth of a fire to warm up on a winter evening. But before you light up that first log, make sure your fireplace and chimney are clean and critter-free. A professional chimney sweep can clean out soot and other debris that could catch fire. Keep your home’s warm air from escaping out the chimney when you’re not using it by keeping the flue closed all the way. An easy check is when the flue is closed, you shouldn’t be able to feel any cold air coming down the chimney.
These are just a few great tips to start thinking about as the weather changes and more cooler weather days are ahead. Protect your home in the winter months or if you are looking for a new house to call home this winter, give us a call!