6 Intelligent Ways to Prepare Your House for Winter
Winter months can be unforgiving, with extremely low temperatures, storms, and other weather conditions that can cause property damage and pose serious health risks to you and your loved ones. That said, you need to brace your house for winter to protect your property and family from winter-related issues. Check out these six ways to prepare your house for winter.
1. Professional Furnace Maintenance
The furnace is a great option to keep you and your family warm during winter when the temperatures drop. Therefore, you should schedule professional maintenance for your furnace before the onset of the cold months. A furnace maintenance service will help keep your heating system in good shape throughout winter, allowing it to heat your home when needed. Maintenance can also help identify and repair lurking issues to avoid breakdowns in the middle of winter. Always hire a professional technician to do your furnace tune-up.
2. Prepare Your Fireplace
If you own a fireplace, ensure it is thoroughly inspected and maintained before using it. This includes cleaning the firebox and eliminating any creosote in the box and chimney. Contact a fireplace expert to repair visible structural issues. You should also ensure all alarms connected to the fireplace are working correctly. Along with your furnace, a functional fireplace will help keep your home warm.
3. Insulate Exposed Pipes
Insulating all exposed pipes in your property is a smart way of preparing your house for winter. Water running through pipes exposed to cold can freeze as a result of frigid temperatures. Consequently, the frozen pipes can burst, potentially causing significant damage to your plumbing system. Make sure to insulate all exposed pipes in your home using fiberglass, foam, or glass wool. Proper insulation will ensure water in your pipes doesn’t freeze, therefore ensuring the integrity of your plumbing system is protected.
4. Trim Tree Branches
Before winter, trim all tree branches growing over your house, driveway, deck, power, and other important parts of your home. Also, get rid of dead limbs still attached to your trees. During winter storms, branches can fall on these structures and cause severe damage and injuries. All tree branches and limbs should be at least 3 feet from the house. Clearing all branches will give you peace of mind as you’ll be sure that nothing will fall on your house during winter.
5. Inspect the Roof
Your roof is critical in protecting your interior spaces against severe weather conditions and external elements. A professional roofer should inspect your roof before winter to identify any issues. The roofer will climb your roof to look for damaged or missing shingles, sagging parts, water leaks, and compromised chimney flashing. In the interior, professionals will investigate your attic for adequate ventilation, insulation, moisture buildup, and fungi growth. All identified issues will be resolved to ensure that your roof is in good shape ahead of the cold months.
6. Clear the Gutters and Downspouts
Clear all gutters and downspouts in your home to promote effective water management in the cold months. In addition, make sure the downspouts pour water at least 4 feet from your home’s foundation. During winter storms, cleared gutters and downspouts will effectively channel water away from your roof, preventing ice dam accumulation and damage to your roof. The gutters and downspouts will safeguard your foundation by ensuring all collected water is drained far away from your house.
Consult Experts to Prepare Your Home for Winter
As a homeowner, ensuring your property is ready for winter is a top priority. If you’re in Nacogdoches, TX and the surrounding areas, you can depend on our experienced team at Nacogdoches Sheet Metal, Plumbing & Air Conditioning, LTD. to take care of all your home’s needs. In business since 2010, we have many years of experience and offer a wide range of services, including indoor air quality solutions, sheet metal fabrication, plumbing, and HVAC units. All our NATE-certified team members boast great knowledge in delivering quality work. We are also a member of the Disabled Veterans Business Alliance and recognized as a Certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Member by the Center for Veteran’s Enterprise. Additionally, we have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Contact Nacogdoches Sheet Metal, Plumbing & Air Conditioning, LTD. today to ask for professional home services.