The Cold Months Are Coming: Home Fixes to Attend to Ahead of Winter
Now we’re into November, winter is stretched out in front of us. Before the temperatures really start to drop, you should make some changes to your home and carry out some fixes. When your home is better able to deal with the winter, you’ll be more comfortable and secure too.
Trim Your Trees
When your gutters get clogged up, all that debris will freeze during winter. This can prevent water from running away from your home. It can then lead to all kinds of other problems, so you need to cut off the problem at the source. You can do that by trimming the trees that are closest to your home. That way, twigs and leaves won’t blow into your gutters so much. Take the time to clean out any debris that has already piled up in your gutters while you’re at it. It will save you a big headache later on.
Upgrade Substandard Insulation
Has it been a long time since you last thought about your home’s insulation? If it is, it might need to be upgraded before it can do an adequate job for your home. When the insulation in your home is substandard, more heat will escape from it. Not only does this make your home colder but it also means that you will be wasting money on heating the home. You don’t want to do that, so upgrade the insulation in your attic, and possibly in the walls of the home too.
Stop Your Pipes from Freezing
You need to stop the pipes feeding into your home from freezing. This is a very common problem during the winter months, but it’s not one that you will want to experience. So, make sure that you take steps to stop the problem from arising in the first place. You can use heat tracing to do this. Alternatively, you could attach insulation to the piping. This will stop them from freezing up and cracking, which is something you don’t want to have to deal with.
Have the Fireplace and Chimney Cleaned
Now is a good time to have your home’s fireplace and chimney cleaned. If you haven’t had them cleaned since last year, it’s important to do so before winter strikes again. You will probably be using your fireplace more and more in the weeks and months ahead. To make sure that you get the most out of your fireplace and stop ash becoming a problem, it will need to be fully clean. Hire someone to do this cleaning work for you if you don’t know how.
Fix Any Holes in the Window Frames
If you notice any problems with the frames of your windows, you should fix them. When there are gaps in the caulking, heat can escape from the home. And that cold air will enter into it. That’s the last thing you want when winter is underway. It’s pretty simple to fill up those gaps, so spend some time on it soon. On top of that, you might want to invest in some draught excluders.