Four Home Maintenance Chores You Need To Do Before Winter Arrives

It's that time of year again. The fall season is here, which means winter, and the harsh weather, is just around the corner. It's time to start thinking about what you need to do to prepare your home for the cold weather to come. Fortunately, you don't have to think about it too much. Check out these tips to learn how to make sure your home keeps you and your family warm and cozy until spring.

Clean the Gutters

Once the leaves have fallen from the trees, it's time to clean the gutters. Clogged gutters and downspouts are a major cause of ice dams, which can wreak havoc on your roof. So, take the time to remove all of the leaves and debris from the gutters, flush the gutters and downspouts out with water, and inspect all of the gutter's joints and brackets to make sure they are tight. If necessary, you should also take the time to replace any damaged or sagging portions of your gutter and cover the top of the gutter with a leaf guard to keep the debris out.

Get Your Furnace Inspected

The fall season is the perfect time for you to schedule your annual furnace inspection. Simply call your local heating and air conditioning company to make an appointment for a furnace repair tech to do a complete furnace inspection and tune up. Not only will the HVAC repair tech look for any potential problems with your furnace, he'll clean out the furnace and vents to make sure there isn't anything blocking the airflow in your home and check the gas line to ensure it's connected and working properly.

Winterize Your Pipes

Winterize your indoor pipes so that they don't freeze, and potentially burst, on severely cold nights. To winterize your pipes, purchase fitted pipe insulation from your local home improvement store, then, wrap the insulation around your indoor pipes. To make sure that the most susceptible pipes are wrapped properly, start with the pipes that are closest to exterior walls and work your way towards any pipes that are located in the middle of the house.

Inspect Your the Seals Around Your Windows and Doors

If your windows aren't properly sealed, cold air can come in and hot air can go out. So, you need to make sure every window seal in your home is in good shape. Run your hand in front of each seal to see if you feel any drafts. If you do, mark that window with a sticky note to indicate that you need to purchase a repair kit for that window or door. Once you've purchased your repair kits, follow the instructions on the kit to fix the seals. Also, because you're inspecting the windows anyway, it's a great time to replace any cracked or broken windows.

While it takes some time to make sure that your home is ready for the cold winter weather, it's worth it in the long run. It gives you plenty of time to fix any problems before the winter season arrives. 

To learn more, contact a company like Climec Residential Inc. 

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