Tips in Preparing Your Home for Winter

With the coming of winter, it is once again the time to prepare your home for the frosty and cold weather. There are some preparations for your home that need professional help, so make sure that you call early since calendars tend to get full in the weeks leading to winter.

Nevertheless, there are also things you can do on your own to prepare for the cold months. Following the simple steps in weatherproofing your home could save you hundreds of dollars every year on energy costs. In preparing your home for winter, you would need to prepare batteries, sand, storm windows, rock salt, weather stripping, snow shovels, insulation and caulks.

1. Consider adding a second layer of insulation to your attic. R-30 is considered the minimum, especially if your home is new but if not you can add insulation.
2. Caulk around the door glass and trim and the window and all other exterior trim. Replace or install weather stripping on all your doors and windows and look for cracks around the electrical outlets and pipes entering or exiting the walls.
3. Install storm doors and windows if you have them and consider buying storm windows if you have old windows and not made from modern insulated glass.
4. Get your heating system checked by a licensed air conditioning and heating professional. Many furnace manufacturers recommend inspections at least once a year.
5. Check and clean the gutters if needed. Clogged gutters could result in flooding in the basement when snow melts.
6. Replace any damaged or roof shingles.
7. Get the chimneys inspected by a chimney service and if needed cleaned.
8. Check out the foundation for places where water could puddle.
9. Trim tree branches away from your home and have dead trees and branches removed by either you or professional trimmers.
10. Make sure to stock your home with rock salt, snow shovels, sand and other items you are going to need in winter.
11. Find cracks where heat could escape around doors and windows and make sue to use caulk to fill gaps.
12. If you have old windows, it might be time to check out energy efficient windows and remember that there is a tax credit right now if you buy Energy Star certified products.
13. Change or replace the furnace filter. This does not only make the furnace work more effectively but it also traps more dust and allergens.
14. Make sure to clean the gutters since gutters that are full could lead to a water back-up in your home which can cause deterioration, mold and water damage.
15. Make certain that all the water from the gutters runs way from your home by three to four feet. Water pooling near the house base could cause damage to the basement.
16. Flush and drain the hot water heater in your home.
17. Check the basement for leaks, cracks and seal if needed.
18. Clean out the garage and store the lawn furniture before it becomes too cold for maintenance.