When the last few leaves fall from the tree branches, you must take care of your home and prepare it for winter. You can inspect your roof, fireplace, heating system, insulation, front and back yard, and gutters yourself. However, it might be a good idea to also contact an expert to take a professional look and fix any issues that might be in your home.
Check Out the Roof
A roof that is properly working is crucial when the winter weather comes around. You do not want to have to deal with a leak after the first snowfall. A good way option to do before the cold months come around is to do a thorough inspection of the roof. When looking at your roof, be careful if you find cracked caulk or rust spots, buckling, curling, or blistering shingles, any missing or broken shingles, any mass of moss, or missing or broken shingles. While you can take care of some issues yourself, it is a good idea to have a professional do a thorough inspection so you can fix any issues before the colder months come around. Additionally, a professional has a much keener eye to issues and can help guide you on which issues are most important to fix.
Inspect Your Fireplace and Heating System
It is important to stay warm during the winter weather. Therefore, you should inspect your fireplace, as well as your home and water heating systems.
Fireplaces
When inspecting your fireplace outside of your home, it is important to look for a good chimney cap, absence of bird nests or debris on the cap, no tree limbs above or near the chimney, no crumbling or missing mortar and bricks. Additionally, the chimney should be above at least two feet above where the roof is, and the crown of the chimney should be beveled to help with the airflow. Not to mention that you should also check that the flue liner is visible above the chimney crown, the chimney is not leaning to one side, and the roof flashing is tight against the chimney.
When inside your home, you should check that the flue dumber opens, closes, and seals properly. There should now be any combustible materials in the flue. Lastly, you should check that there are no missing or cracked bricks and mortar surrounding the fireplace.
If you own a gas fireplace, you will need to take care of fewer things. However, it is important to make sure that it is in good condition for the colder months. When inspecting your gas fireplace, you should check if the gas logs are in proper position and inspect the glass doors for cracks or latch issues. Lastly, you should turn on your gas fireplace and look for any clogged burner holes.
Heating Systems
When the colder winter months come around, your heating systems must be working properly. It does not matter whether you have a modern HVAC system or an old school furnace, it is important to take care of it before the time of year you will need it most. It is important to change your air filter and test the igniter switch.
It is also important to check if your water heater is working properly. You should flush out the hot water to remove any sediment. You should also check if your water heater is running properly so you do not have to deal with ice-cold water during the winter months.
Insulate Windows and Doors
When the hot weather months come around, they can cause the seals of windows and doors to crack. Therefore, it is important to check them out before winter comes. If your windows and doors are not properly insulated, your energy bill might go up. This is because the cold air from outside can get into your home if your windows are not properly sealed. A simple way to check if there is any missing insulation is to feel around your house for any drafts. If you find any, you should apply caulk and install weather stripping to keep your home insulated all winter long.
Prep Your Lawn and Trim Tree Branches
If you want to keep your lawn green and beautiful, you will need to protect it from the harsh winter weather. A good way to do that is to aerate your lawn. Additionally, you need to make sure to use winterizing soil to keep the grass safe from the cold temperature drops.
When taking care of your back and front yards, you need to also check on any trees you have surrounding your home. You do not want to have to deal with a tree branch falling on your roof and damaging during a winter storm. Additionally, branches that are over your home can lead to excess water seeping into the cracks in the roof or siding.
Clear Gutters and Downspouts
After fall, gutters and downspouts can become clogged with the falling leaves. If you have clogged rain gutters or downspouts, they can damage the foundation of your home or cause ice dams. These issues can lead to expensive repairs that you do not want to deal with. Therefore, it is important to clean your gutters by removing any leaves, twigs, and gunk. You should also make sure that your gutters are not sagging and trapping water. If this is occurring, tighten gutter hangers and downspout brackets. Additionally, you should replace any damaged or worn materials.
If you want to get a professional to help you insulate your home to get ready for winter, Universal Insulation Doctor is the perfect option for you. We offer a complete insulation process to handle all your insulation needs. Additionally, all our equipment is owned by us, meaning we can quickly and efficiently solve any of your insulation problems. Not to mention that we offer free inspections to find out what is the exact issue with your home insulation.
