How to Prepare Your Home for Winter The Right Way

Winter is the time of year when people are most concerned about their homes. The cold weather can cause pipes to freeze and burst, it can lead to an increased risk of fire hazards, and if you don’t prepare your home for winter properly, there could be a lot of damage that needs to be repaired.

Thankfully, you don’t have to do all the work yourself. Here are some great tips that will help you prepare your home for winter in no time at all.

1. Don’t Forget Your Garage Door

Winter is here, and it’s time to take care of your garage door. Your home is susceptible to the elements, and many factors might lead to water damage, such as rain or snow entering your garage door. Having garage doors weather seals is an easy and affordable way to help keep your garage insulated and warm.

There are different types of garage door seals available, you have to research to find high quality and durable ones. You can also consider hiring a contractor to do the work for you for better results. Properly maintained seals will last much longer than those left neglected, which means less costly repairs later on down the line.

2. Check Your Drainage System

One of the most important things to do when preparing your home for winter is to check your drainage system. If you don’t do this now, the rain and snow will make it nearly impossible to get out later.

All around your home are tiny drainage holes that allow water in but prevent flooding inside your house. Clear them all out now before there’s any chance they could become clogged with fallen leaves or other debris. Ensure all of your gutters and downspouts are clear of debris so that the water can properly flow away from your home.

While you’re at it, ensure your downspouts are draining water toward shrubs or other plants and not gushing directly onto the exterior of your home. It will prevent eroding foundations and damage to the siding.

3. Get Your Roof Inspected

It’s essential to get your roof inspected and repaired if there are any issues. Roofs can be damaged by heavy snowfall or ice dams that form on them, so it’s best to have a professional roofing company look at the problem just in case.

Ice dams happen when melting snow travels down from the top of your roof but then freezes again when it hits the cold air, creating a dam of ice. It will prevent the water from draining off your roof and can cause damage to your home’s interior, as well as your roof itself.

If you do have an ice dam, there are some things you can do to help break it up and melt it. You can try pouring hot water over the ice to make it melt faster, and can also use a de-icing agent of some sort. Whatever you do, don’t try to chip away at the ice yourself. It could damage your roof or even cause an injury if you slip and fall.

4. Insulate Pipes

Your water supply is much more likely to freeze during the winter months, so you’ll want to ensure your home’s pipes are correctly insulated. One of the best ways for this insulation to happen naturally is by adding insulation sleeves around them using tape or other adhesive. If you’d prefer not to have these on display inside of your house, then you can purchase these sleeves with an insulation cover that matches the paint on your house walls.

If you have any outdoor pipes that run along the exterior of your home, it’s a good idea to add insulation around them as well. It will help protect them from the cold and keep your water supply from freezing up, which can be very costly to repair.

5. Inspect Your Windows

Windows are another weak spot for the elements, so you’ll want to check they’re in good condition before winter hits. If you have any cracks or leaks in your window panes, now is the time to repair them. You can use a sealant or caulking for this purpose.

If your windows tend to fog up or ice over when it’s cold outside, then you might have some air leaks in the window frame. You can purchase special kits designed for this purpose and help keep both of these problems from occurring.

6. Prevent Your Locks from Freezing

One of the last things you want to happen during winter is for your locks to freeze shut. It can prevent you from getting into your home or even locking yourself out altogether. There are a few things that you can do to help prevent this from happening, though.

One is to lubricate all of your locks with a weather-resistant lubricant. It will keep the moisture out and prevent your locks from freezing up on you. Another thing that you can do is to ensure all of your doors, windows, and other openings are well sealed to help protect them against the cold air outside. It’s also a good idea to have some insulation around any exterior doorways, they stay nice and warm during the winter months.

7. Have Your Furnace Ready for Action

Winter is coming, which means that your heating system will have to work even harder now. If you’ve been putting off having your furnace inspected, then now is the time. In addition, it’s a good idea to purchase some space heaters that can be placed in several rooms of your home so that there are no cold spots when winter rolls around for real.

Space heaters are easy to purchase and install, so there’s no need to worry about having them become a fire hazard or anything like that. They’re also much smaller than your furnace, less expensive, so you can have one in all of the rooms where you spend most of your time if necessary.

In conclusion, by following these tips, you can help prepare your home for winter the right way and avoid any costly or inconvenient problems. Taking a little bit of time now to do these small preparations will save you a lot of hassle down the road.