Winter is coming. With it, the need to winterize your home for another year. A few quick fixes could mean the difference between surviving the cold weather incident, and therefore expense, free, or dealing with leaks and other mishaps and potentially high bills when you inevitably have to call in a professional. Here are the top five money-savers when it comes to batting down the hatches and weatherproofing your home:
Whether it snows or not, close-to-freezing temperatures can be hazardous to your water pipes. It’s a good idea to have your sprinkler system blown-out every fall so pipes don’t freeze from the inside. Insulate exposed pipes, turn off outside faucets, and protect your hot water tank with an insulating blanket to reduce heat loss from the side of the tank.
Your roof is your primary shelter, and ensuring it’s in stellar condition will help fend off potential leaks and breaks. Do a shingle and tile check to ensure none are loose or missing. Take the time to clear your gutters of leaves and other debris while you’re up there to prevent blockages from causing massive overflows in all the wrong places.
Check all weatherstripping and caulking. If need be, your local hardware store carries door draft stoppers. A quick trip now for supplies and some DIY if anything is loose, broken, or inefficient will save you huge on energy bills later.
It’s a good idea to get your fireplace, wood stove chimney, and furnace inspected once a year. This routine cleaning and maintenance could mean a longer lifespan for your gas fireplace and furnace, and also prevents mishaps later that could incur larger emergency call fees. While you’re at it, check your smoke and CO2 detectors are in proper working order.
It’s not cheap to add insulation in your basement or attic, but the return on investment will far outweigh the initial cost. Forego skyrocketing energy bills in the future when large amounts of heat aren’t escaping through under insulated basements, crawl spaces, and attics.
Whether you’ve just moved in or are planning to sell, these simple steps to weatherproof will have lasting benefits. Not a DIYer? Ask for a recommendation from your trusted hardware store and call in the professionals. The investment is worth it.
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