10 Tips to Winterize Your Home
When the weather starts to get colder, you should think about some maintenance and seasonal tasks that will help you get your house ready for winter and keep your property safe.
To help you preserve your home all winter long, JZ Home Buyers gathered 10 easy recommendations for jobs like winterizing your home’s water pipes, preventing heat loss and high energy costs, and taking advantage of warm air.
To get your house ready for winter, follow these steps:
1. Inspect the gutters.
By clearing out your gutters, putting gutter guards in place, and making sure your attic floor is well insulated, you can prevent ice dams. Attic temperatures should be roughly 10 degrees warmer than outside and well-ventilated.
2. Protect the pipelines.
Insulate pipes that may be prone to freezing to prevent them from freezing. Keep a trickle of water flowing from a few faucets when it gets colder than 32 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting. Consider opening the cabinet doors so warm air can surround the piping beneath sinks in the kitchen and bathroom.
3. Seal the Cracks
To assist in stopping cold air from leaking in, caulk cracks and openings around windows, doors, air conditioners, and mail chutes. As an extra heat loss prevention measure, you can also install weatherstripping and seals.
4. Stop the slips, trips, and falls.
Clear snow and ice from sidewalks and driveways, and fix any problems with steps and railings. Additionally, you can be ready for winter weather safety by keeping deicing salt on hand to sprinkle on your driveway, walkways, and stairwells. Make sure to read the instructions for the correct distribution and safety equipment.
5. Install a release for emergencies.
If you have a plumbing system, think about adding an emergency pressure release valve. This can stop the pipes from bursting and will protect them from the additional pressure brought on by frozen pipes. Knowing where your pipes are and how to turn off the water are otherwise precautions.
6. Keep everything warm.
Make sure your home or apartment is well insulated, and set your thermostat to at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Consider putting in a programmable or energy-efficient thermostat to keep warm air in the rooms you use the most without having to pay a lot for energy.
7. Inspect your heating system.
At least once a year, you should have your furnace, boiler, and chimney serviced to get rid of any buildup and keep them running well.
8. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Winter is a time when home fires are more frequent, so it’s critical that all of your smoke detectors function. Every month, check them and change the batteries if necessary. You should also put a carbon monoxide detector in your home so you don’t accidentally let the dangerous gas in.
9. Keep the yard neat.
Trim the trees regularly, and clean up the yard of any dead branches or trash. Ice, snow, and wind can weaken trees, causing branches to fall and perhaps causing damage to your property, automobile, you, or others.
10. House the hose
Garden hoses that are connected to the home must all be unplugged, drained, and stored. Insulate the faucet and close the valves.
You should take extra security measures if you’re traveling to the south for the winter. To prevent pipes from freezing, turn off the water completely and think about having the plumbing system emptied. Additionally, ask a friend or neighbor to visit your house frequently to search for any problems. If a problem is found, take immediate action to reduce potential property damage.
If you need to sell your home fast and hassle-free, JZ Home Buyers, one of the leading home buyers in the state of Texas, is a company that could help you sell your home for top dollar, giving you a frictionless method to sell your home. JZ Home Buyers buys your home for cash and closes quickly.
Give us a call any time of the day at 817-382-3579 or visit us at www.jzhomebuyers.com.
Let us know how we can help you.