Winter Maintenance Tips For Homeowners

November 10, 2021
edcurrie

Now that the chill in the air has arrived, it’s time to get your house ready for the deep-freeze. Damage caused by water and extreme cold can be costly to repair, so use this checklist to prepare your home so you can have a stress-free winter! Interior Home Needs

If you haven’t had your heating system inspected during the fall, waste no time in scheduling your appointment. It’s far less costly to schedule an inspection than it is to pay for an emergency appointment — if you can even get one.
Check your pipes. When water freezes it expands and causes pipes to burst. To prevent this from happening, insulate any pipes that are in areas of your home that are unheated. Typically, pipes located in the garage, basement or near windows or doors will need to be insulated. Also, be sure to disconnect garden hoses from outdoor faucets and don’t let your home’s temperature get below 50°F.
Inspect your attic. Proper ventilation is important, along with checking for any leaks or obstructions.
Inspect your water heater. To make sure your gas-fired water heater is running properly, light a match next to the vent and wave — not blow — it out. If the smoke pulls into the vent, the unit is running properly. Look around the water heater for any leaking water. When water heaters are more than five years old, be sure to have them checked every six months for leaks. Replace if you find leakage or rust.
Create an emergency kit. You never know when you’re going to be without power due to a downed line, so keep your survival kit handy and in a safe, dry place. Stock a large bucket or container with flashlights, extra batteries, bottled water, non-perishable snacks, blankets and an extra phone charger.

Exterior Home Needs

Inspect the roof. Shingles that turn up or down make the roof more likely to leak.
Hire a chimney sweep to clean and inspect your chimney. Even if it is inactive, have it inspected. The pro will be able to check for any leaks for cracks.

If you are already thinking about making significant home improvements this spring, contact Ed Currie and this team. We can help find you the best construction loan options so you’re able to reserve your contractors before they’re booked this spring. For more tips and our latest updates, check us out on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Pinterest!

Interior Home Needs

If you haven’t had your heating system inspected during the fall, waste no time in scheduling your appointment. It’s far less costly to schedule an inspection than it is to pay for an emergency appointment — if you can even get one.
Check your pipes. When water freezes it expands and causes pipes to burst. To prevent this from happening, insulate any pipes that are in areas of your home that are unheated. Typically, pipes located in the garage, basement or near windows or doors will need to be insulated. Also, be sure to disconnect garden hoses from outdoor faucets and don’t let your home’s temperature get below 50°F.
Inspect your attic. Proper ventilation is important, along with checking for any leaks or obstructions.
Inspect your water heater. To make sure your gas-fired water heater is running properly, light a match next to the vent and wave — not blow — it out. If the smoke pulls into the vent, the unit is running properly. Look around the water heater for any leaking water. When water heaters are more than five years old, be sure to have them checked every six months for leaks. Replace if you find leakage or rust.
Create an emergency kit. You never know when you’re going to be without power due to a downed line, so keep your survival kit handy and in a safe, dry place. Stock a large bucket or container with flashlights, extra batteries, bottled water, non-perishable snacks, blankets and an extra phone charger.

Exterior Home Needs

Inspect the roof. Shingles that turn up or down make the roof more likely to leak.
Hire a chimney sweep to clean and inspect your chimney. Even if it is inactive, have it inspected. The pro will be able to check for any leaks for cracks.