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home maintenance in winter

HOME REPAIRS + MAINTENANCE

Prep Your Home for Fall With These 5 Steps

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The transition from summer to fall is an ideal time to make home renovations. With the weather getting cooler and the desire for hygge inspiration, it’s time to make sure the interior of your home is ready for you to cozy up for winter. Making sure the exterior of your home is ready to handle the cold should be on the list as well. If you follow these five tips, your home’s interior and exterior will be ready in no time.

1. Clean the Interior


Since you’ll be spending more time inside, you want your home space to be clean and tidy. Deep clean the floors, bathrooms, and any other areas that track in a lot of dirt like the mudroom. This is also a good time to consider adding an air purification system to help create a healthier environment. In addition to cleaning the floors, you should also wash your curtains as well as any blankets you’ve pulled out for the colder months. Check your smoke detectors and replace any old light bulbs. Also, organize your pantry,
closets, and other storage areas for easy access.

2. Make Kitchen Upgrades

Fall and winter lend themselves to more time in the kitchen cooking soups and stews, plus hosting friends and family for the holidays. If you’ve been considering upgrading your kitchen, this is a good time to plan and complete this home project. With a kitchen renovation, you’ll need to plan ahead to eat meals out or with your family and prepare any safety measures. When remodeling your kitchen consider upgrading your counters, cupboards, sink, and appliances to newer energy-efficient models. To help fund a home renovation, consider using money that’s tied up in your home with a tax-deductible home equity loan. This type of loan will tend to have a lower interest rate than a personal loan option. Depending on the extent of your renovation, you may opt to change the whole layout by adding or removing elements, like an island for example. You also might want to update the backsplash, countertops, and sink style.

3. Check Home Insulation


With colder months coming, you want to make sure your doors and windows are properly sealed. This will help keep the warm air in and in turn, keep your energy costs down. Walk through your home and check all windows for gaps or areas where light is coming in. If there are spaces, you’ll need to re-seal the windows to close any exposed openings. Another step that you can take is adding a piece of window insulation film to all of your windows. Doing this can help retain 55% more heat in your home during the winter. For the doorways of your home, it’s the same idea. The best way to do this is by adding weatherstripping materials. If this isn’t an option, an inexpensive fix is adding a fabric door draft stopper.

4. Service Your Heating System


Before you have to turn up the heat, you should have a specialist come to your home to check that all components are working properly. Maintaining the longevity and quality of your HVAC system requires proper maintenance. If you can’t get a specialist out to service your system, check and replace air filters and run the unit prior to its first use. Consider utilizing a home warranty plan to help cover repair costs or replacement of your HVAC system should something go wrong. Lastly, if you don’t already have one, consider purchasing a programmable thermostat. With this, you can schedule when the heat turns on and off. This can help lower your overall energy usage and costs.

5. Prepare the Exterior for Fall and Winter months


Before the winter months, you need to check your roof. Inspect for any loose or broken shingles. Look for mold and mildew spots, moss growth, or any other signs of wear and tear. Alongside this task, clean out your gutters and remove any extra debris. If you have a chimney and fireplace, you’ll want to have it cleaned and inspected prior to using it for the season. You should also check for any hanging trees and remove any that could cause damage during a storm.

With these tips, you’ll be ready for cozy fall evenings and the holiday season. You spend a lot of time at home in the cooler months so having a space you love is important so you can enjoy a restful and happy season!

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HOME REPAIRS + MAINTENANCE

3 Steps to Prepare Your Home for Winter

3-steps-to-prepare-your-home-for-winter

As summer winds down, many homeowners know that winter is fast approaching. While the fall months still offer warmer temperatures, now is the time to get ready for the harsh weather that the summer can bring.

Preparing the home for winter can help make those cold months a little more comfortable. Various steps taken can ensure a warmer home and lower costs to keep it that way. These steps can also prevent problems that can arise when the temperatures drop.

#1 Seal the Exterior

Protecting the home from the extreme temperatures, snow, and ice that winter can bring is very important. Sealing the exterior of the home can help minimize heat exchange and prevent damage from the wintry storms. Exterior coating can provide homeowners an easy method for accomplishing this task. Homeowners can get more information about how this product can help at their site.

One of the earliest methods for protecting the exterior of a home is paint. Paint can help prevent the natural elements of winter from destroying the exterior of a home. Unfortunately, paint fades, chips, and peels. Not only does this reduce the protection it provides, but it also diminishes the look of a home.

Another method for protection is the siding. Siding can prevent the weather from damaging the home. It can even help prevent heat transfer. The colors also last a lot longer than any type of house paint. Unfortunately, it does not provide the complete protection that exterior coating provides a home.

#2 Inspect the Roof

The winter weather can really wreak havoc on a roof. Small cracks or areas of wear can be vulnerable to water seeping between the materials. When the temperature drops, that water can freeze and expand. This can create larger cracks and damage to the roof. Eventually, the home may face leaks or other issues.

It is important to have a roof thoroughly inspected before the winter sets in. This should be performed by someone who is trained to identify even minor roofing issues. If problems are found, steps should be taken to correct those issues before the winter months.

It may also be a good idea to inspect the fireplace and chimney during this time. It is important to check for any debris or nests on the chimney cap. The mortar and bricks should be inspected for damage. The liner and flashing should also be checked for damage to prevent problems during the winter.

#3 Clear Gutters and Insulate Windows

Autumn brings a lot of fallen leaves. These leaves can easily build up in the gutters. When the winter months come, it can prevent the proper flow of water. Eventually, this can create an ice dam. This can cause damage to the gutters and even allow water to saturate the ground and damage the home’s foundation.

It is important to have the gutters cleaned out at the end of the fall season. It may also be a good idea to check to ensure that all the gutters are in good repair and lined up properly to the downspouts. Worn or damaged materials should be replaced to ensure proper drainage away from the home.

Windows should also be checked during the fall. Windows are the main culprit to allow heat to escape during the cold winter months. Checking the insulation or even replacing damaged windows may be a good idea to prevent costly heating bills this winter.

If the home is in an area that gets extremely cold in the wintertime. It may also be a good idea to ensure that all water pipes are insulated to prevent them from freezing or breaking. These handy steps can help protect a home from many of the issues the winter can bring.

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