Do you hear the wind howling at your doorstep? Maybe the snow has already started to collect on your roof. It’s important not to delay with home maintenance when you suspect that winter is coming; every day brings you closer to frozen conditions that will make it impossible to do certain outdoor tasks. If you want to beat the cold before it comes in, here are just four tips for winterizing your home.
1. Seal the Cracks
You might be surprised by how much that a single cracked window frame can affect your home’s internal temperature. Not only will it let the cold air inside, but it will also allow the hot air to escape. Do yourself a favor and seal up any cracks that you notice in doors, windows and walls.
2. Inspect Your HVAC System
Is your furnace making strange noises? Has your water heater seen better days? It might be worth the effort to call a local HVAC service Yorktown VA. You’ll want to make sure that everything is in tip-top shape for the cold weather that’s approaching.
3. Clean Your Gutters
Blocked gutters might be annoying to deal with in summer, but they can be downright hazardous in the winter. This is because leaves and twigs have the potential to freeze and then drop in hard blocks on the heads of unsuspecting people below. It might sound like something out of a cartoon, but it does legitimate injury to hundreds of people per year.
4. Insulate Your Pipes
You’ve probably heard the advice to wrap your pipes in winter so that they won’t freeze, but there’s a much more efficient solution for those who are willing to pay: insulation. It will protect your pipes from the frost without any additional effort on your part.
These are just a few things to keep in mind as you prepare your home for winter. There are many other steps that you can take in addition to the ones listed here; these are just some of the most basic. Do more research for more advanced ways to keep out winter’s chill!
