Cold weather can be fun and exciting, but the damage that it can do to your home is not. You need to be proactive and take preventative measures to keep your home protected during the winter. It will save you a lot of trouble and damage in the future. Here are some things that you should do to keep your home safe before winter comes.
Protect the Pipes
As water freezes, it will expand, so the water in the pipes will expand as well, which can lead to bursts and cracks. Additionally, if there is a chunk of ice in your pipes, the pressure will build, which can make it burst. That is why people let the faucets drip when the weather is freezing. You can drain water from sprinkler systems and outdoor faucets to avoid freezing those pipes and use insulation to protect water pipes that are in unheated parts of your home, like the garage or attic.
Avoid Ice Dams
When heat releases through the roof, it melts any snow that settled there. That snowmelt will flow to the edge of the roof and refreeze, which creates an ice dam. Since there is a damn in the way, water will find a way to escape, which often leads to a leak in the roof that creates a lot of water damage. The best way to avoid this is to clean your gutters and downspouts before winter comes to let water flow out in the winter. You can get a service for gutter cleaning in Ogden to make sure gutters are efficiently cleaned.
Check the Chimney and Fireplace
An exciting part of winter is lighting up the fireplace to enjoy the warmth, but you should think twice before you use it. It would help if you made sure that no animals are living inside your chimney and that it is clean. Get a professional chimney sweep done to clean out debris and soot that can catch fire. When you are not using the chimney, you should close the flue all of the way so warm air does not escape.
Seal Doors and Windows
If you notice that you turn up the heat more than you should, the problem might be because of your windows and doors. Gaps around doors and windows let any precious warm air escape and allow the cold air to enter. Install weather drippings around the doors and caulk the windows as necessary to avoid this. You might benefit from upgrading to insulated doors or double- or triple-pane windows if you have old doors and windows.
Stock-Up on the Essentials
If a bad snowstorm hits, you need to prepare your family because there could be a power outage, or you could get snowed in. It would be best if you stocked up on the basics, which varies on your needs. For instance, you would need a lot of baby formula if you have a baby in your home or extra dog food if you own a dog. You should also keep items for emergencies like a fire extinguisher, a first-aid kit, and a flashlight.
Preparing your home for the winter is essential to avoid dealing with costly and massive issues.
