Everyone knows that the winter months can be brutal. You need to plan ahead if you want to make it through unscathed. Before the snow starts falling and the temperatures start dropping, it’s essential that you prep your home for winter. This way, you won’t have any nasty surprises when the first frost hits. If you don’t take action now, you might be faced with problems like burst pipes, frozen indoor pipes, or a heater that can’t handle the chill. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do now to ensure your home is ready for winter when it comes calling. The following six tips will help you prepare your home for winter so that come December, you’ll be able to hunker down without any worries.
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Change Your Air Filters
Air filters should be changed every 3 months during the warm weather months, and every 2 months from October to March. Air quality is important for your health all year round, but especially in the winter, when you may be more susceptible to allergies and flu. Dirty filters cause indoor air pollution, which can lead to health issues like allergies, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses. It can also increase your energy bills. Ensuring you have clean air filters installed can help reduce your risk of respiratory illnesses. It can also help you avoid having to use your furnace more, which can save you money on your heating bill. And as a plus, clean air filters also help your home smell better! If you don’t know how long your current air filter has been in place, you can check the manufacturer’s label to find out when it needs to be replaced. The best self regulating heat trace cable give you the heat.
Tarp Your Roof
If you live in an area where you get lots of snow, then you might need to tarp your roof. If you don’t, it’s still a good idea to do it anyway as a precautionary measure. Snow can build up on your roof and cause all kinds of problems, from water damage inside, to roof collapse. Tarping your roof will help keep your home protected from snow buildup and any associated roof damage that might occur. When the snow melts, it will simply run off the tarp instead of getting stuck on your roof and overflowing into your gutters. This can help prevent damage from water build-up and ice dams, which can cause big problems come spring. If you don’t know how to properly tarp your roof, hire a professional contractor to do it for you for your heat pump.
Check Your Windows and Doors
Make sure all your windows and doors are in tip-top shape before winter hits. If any of them are in need of repair, get them fixed right away. Leaving them as they are can lead to bigger problems down the line. Doors are a special concern because they are both an entry point for cold weather and an exit point for warm indoor air. Do whatever you can to seal off any drafty areas and make sure all your doors are properly weather-stripped. If you have any old windows that could use replacing, now would be a good time to do it. New energy-efficient windows are much better at keeping the cold out and the heat in. They’re also better for your wallet because they can help lower your energy bill. Visit this website to know more!
Turn on the Faucet and Fix Any Leaks
Check all of your faucets to make sure they are not leaking. This can be a big problem come winter because frozen pipes can burst and cause some serious damage. A faucet leak can also cause the same problem. If a faucet is leaking, it can lead to water damage that will cost you a lot of money to repair. Be sure to shut off the water to your outside faucets to prevent them from freezing and causing flooding. If you have an outside spigot, make sure it is properly winterized to avoid freezing. If you notice a leak in your pipes, turn off the water as quickly as you can. Put a bucket under the leak to catch any water that comes out. Once the leak is fixed, turn the water back on. If you have frozen pipes, you can thaw them out by running a warm stream of water through them. Do not use a torch, a hair dryer, or anything else that produces trane heat exchange replacement. Heat can make frozen pipes expand, which can cause them to break.
Install Winter-Proofing Equipment
Some winter-proofing equipment you can install inside your home to make it more winter-friendly include a humidifier, a warm-air humidifier, or a dehumidifier. A humidifier will prevent your indoor pipes from freezing by adding moisture to the air, which increases the temperature in your home. Warm-air humidifiers warm the air as well as moisturizing it. A dehumidifier will reduce the amount of moisture in your home and keep your indoor pipes from freezing. Other winter-proofing equipment you can install outside your home includes a snowblower, a lawnmower with a winter-friendly blade, or maybe even a snow shovel so you don’t have to go out in the cold when the first snowfall hits.
Winterize Your Heating System
Winterize your heating system by having a professional come out and check it for any issues. If there are any problems, have them fixed before the weather gets cold, so your heater is ready to go when you need it. You can also take some preventative measures to keep your heating system in good shape, like fixing leaky faucets, making sure the tank is vented properly, and clearing any clogs in the lines. Keeping your heating system in good shape can help you avoid having to spend money on repairs during the coldest part of the year. If your heating system is old and needs to be replaced, wait until the coldest part of winter is over so you don’t have to deal with frozen pipes.
Winterize Your Water Systems
Your water systems need to be winterized as well. This includes your hot water heater, your pipes, and your sprinkler system. You can do some simple things to winterize your hot water heater like keeping the lid closed and the temperature set to a low setting. To winterize your pipes, make sure you have antifreeze in the pipes leading to your outdoor faucets. This will help prevent the pipes from freezing. You can also wrap your outdoor pipes in an insulation wrap to protect them from freezing. For your sprinkler system, make sure you have winter-friendly sprinklers installed. You can also shut off the system and cover it with a tarp to keep it safe from the cold.
Winterize Your Exterior
Make sure you winterize your exterior too. This can include trimming any tree branches near your home that could get in the way of your roof or power lines, planting hardy flowers, and covering your water pipes. If your water pipes are exposed, they could freeze and burst, which could flood your yard. You can cover them with a piece of wood or a tarp. You should also keep your gutters clean and make sure they are unclogged so water can flow freely away from your house. You can also use a snow blower to clean your driveway and sidewalks. Regular shoveling can be exhausting, and if you aren’t careful, you could hurt your back. A snow blower is much easier on your body and allows you to get the job done much quicker.
Conclusion
Preparing your home for winter is essential if you want to survive the cold temperatures. It’s important to change your air filters, check your windows and doors, turn on the faucet and fix any leaks, install winter-proofing equipment, and winterize your heating system. You should also winterize your water systems, your exterior, and your garden. With these tips, your home will be ready to handle whatever the winter season throws at it.
