The winter months can be damaging to your home. Freezing conditions and driving rain or snow can lead to water leaks, high energy bills and other problems. However, protecting your home isn’t that difficult. Whether the cold weather has already arrived or you’re preparing for the bad temperatures on the horizon, here are some steps you can take to prepare your home for the winter.
Clean the Gutters
Winter weather usually brings periods of severe weather followed by brief warm ups. When the temperature goes above freezing during the day, snow on the roof will melt. Without the ability to exit through the gutters, ice dams can form. Protect your home from leaks by cleaning leaves out of the gutters in the fall.
Treat Foundation Problems Early
Signs of a leaking foundation should never be ignored. If your basement takes on water in heavy rains, you don’t want to wait until the middle of winter to address the problem. There are several ways to address foundation problems, and waterproofing companies like Perma-Dry Waterproofing & Drainage, Inc. can provide you with details on the options. Some work can be done from inside the home, but there are other solutions that require working around the exterior, so it’s best to have the home inspected when the weather is mild. However, you can invest in basement waterproofing Seattle at any time if you have a leak.
Shut Down the Lines
Your exterior water hose can freeze and burst when the temperature drops below freezing. As soon as you start hearing frost warnings, shut down these lines and drain the extra water out. If you don’t have a shut-off valve, you can have a plumber install one. You can also put insulated covers over the exterior outlets. Locate where the shut-off valve is just in case a pipe freezes and breaks.
Take Care with Heaters
Supplemental heat sources are smart for warming just the room you’re in, but you need to take care when using them. Fires can start if combustible items are left near the heater, and kids can burn themselves if they aren’t careful. Keep an open area around heaters, keep them out of traffic areas and shut them down when you leave the room for an extended period.
Avoid Falls
Winter brings wet weather, snow and rain. You may spend most of your time right now cleaning up the wet footprints that are tracked in from outside. You don’t want to trip on that puddle melting snow, so take steps to make your home safer. Put large non-skids at entrances for people to stop and remove shoes. Encourage the family to wear slippers around the house so they won’t slip in their socks. When things get icy outside, take the time to put salt down on the ice. If a melt-down leaves piles of slush during the day, remove the slush from walkways to avoid having it all turn into treacherous piles of ice overnight.
Winter brings cold temperatures, and it certainly makes you appreciate the warm weather of spring and summer. Whether you love the cooler days or you’re anxious for them to be over, it’s important to prepare your home for the change in weather. With these tips, you can keep your home and family safe when the cold weather arrives.
