Before the winter comes it is always good to check your home and fix things before it gets worse overtime. No matter whether you stay at home for the winter or go away for a sunny holiday, your home must be prepared to weather the winter. If your home is made according to the best home building tips maybe your living space is ready for the winter but unfortunately most of the time it is not the case.
Some small fixings can go a long way and at the same time will make you and your family members warm and comfortable during the cold months.
1) Check the heating systems
Before things get worse at the last moment, have your whole household thoroughly examined by a heating professional. Try your best to get this done before the winter starts. If you wait until the winter you will find it very difficult to get hold of a heating expert. And there are little things you can do yourself too. Vacuum the vents and other components to allow easy access for the heat. When you replace the furnace filter, do not forget to have spare filter in hand.
2) Seal all the cracks
Cracks in windows and doors are massively overlooked when you prepare your home for the winter. There is a tremendous amount of heat escaped through these cracks. Carefully check all the weather stripping of the house and replace where it is needed. After sealing all the cracks you will see a noticeable decrease in your heating expenses. If you got a basement, do not forget to check the basement windows. If they are unsealed properly it is another area where heat can escape.
3) Check the Roof
Are your roof shingles in place? If not get them fixed by a handyman. If the flashing around the chimney or vent pipes are not watertight he will fix them too. A leaking roof is the last thing you need during the winter. Also check the gutters and clean them. If there are tree limbs over your roof, trim them as well before the winter.
4) Winterise plumbing
Frozen water pipes can cause a disaster and also it will be a very expensive one. You can control the situation by using the heat tape to keep the pipes warm. Prepare all the outdoor faucets for the winter. Before the winter comes, drain water from the outdoor faucets and sprinklers.
The best way to prepare for the winter is to take the steps long before the winter starts. That way you will have enough time to prepare and it will be easy to find a handy man to get things fixed.