Four Things You Need To Do Now To Get Your Home Ready For Winter
To ensure that your home remains in superb condition for as long as possible, it is important to adhere to a routine maintenance schedule. With colder temperatures right around the corner, now is the time to tackle your to-do list for properly winterizing your home. Check out a few must-do tasks you should add to your list.
1. Repair Any Drafty Areas of Your Home
Take a few moments to walk through your entire home to search for areas where frigid air is penetrating your home. The best course of action depends on the location of the draft. If air is penetrating the joints, a fresh layer of caulking should take care of the problem.
If you feel air coming in through the windows or doors, fit them with fresh weather stripping to create a tight seal that keeps your warm air in and the cold air out.
Don't forget your metal roof! Sealing the edges of the roof on a regular basis ensures that the roof keeps chilly air out of your home.
Taking care of these drafts is also a simple way to help minimize your heating expenses.
2. Examine Your Pipes
There are fewer tasks more cumbersome than dealing with a frozen pipe. Not only can they cause extensive damage to your home, but it is frustrating to be without water in the dead of winter.
Check all of your pipes to see if they are ready for winter. Some homeowners use heat tape to help insulate their pipes. If you have used heat tape in the past, make sure that all of the pieces are still securely attached to your pipes. Avoid overlapping heat tape; always remove an old portion before installing a new portion.
Another option is to add additional insulation to the portion of your home that houses your pipes. This also helps keep warm, toasty air from leaving your home.
3. Have All of Your Heaters Inspected
When that first sub-freezing night hits, you don't want to be left scrambling for a heat source. Check your heater now to see that it is operating correctly. Replace any filters and clean the grates. Clear any heating vents so that the air can flow freely.
If you depend use propane or oil for fuel, now is the time to schedule a delivery so that you have adequate fuel for the first winter storm.
Don't forget your space heaters! Examine the cords and plugs to make sure that none of them are damaged.
4. Prep Your Septic System
Now is the time to ready your septic system for chilly temperatures so that it can handle weather extremes without freezing. If needed, add an extra layer of insulation, such as a thick coating of mulch or pine needles. This step is essential if you have a new system that hasn't had the opportunity to build up its own insulation just yet.
If your septic system does freeze, call in a professional contractor, such as from Lutzky Contracting, as soon as possible. You want someone who has experience in dealing with frozen systems.