With fall officially here, it’s time to start thinking about preparing your home for the winter ahead! Most of these tasks you can do yourself and will help you stay warm during the winter. They also help you lower your utility bills and protect your most important investment, your home. Read on to see how you can prepare for the cold weather!
1. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
Hot air rises, which means if you reverse your ceiling fans during the winter, the fan will push the heat down into the room. Because of the clockwise direction, the fan will produce an updraft that will push all the heat down. This is especially helpful in rooms with high ceilings and might even allow you to turn down the thermostat to save energy!
2. Clean the Gutters
The last thing you want to happen during the winter is for water to back up against your house because your gutters are full of debris. Leaving your gutters full of debris and leaves can cause water to back up against the house and damage the roofing, siding, and trim. It can also cause leaks and ice dams, which are equally frustrating and damaging. So you can either grab a ladder and clean them yourself or call a professional, if you don’t live in a community with a Homeowners Association!
3. Turn Off Exterior Faucets
Everyone’s worst fear during the winter is if his or her water pipes burst. Make sure to drain water from any exterior faucets so that there isn’t a chance for undrained water to freeze and expand, which causes the pipes to burst.
4. Call a Chimney Sweep
If you have a fireplace in your home, it’s probably best to call a chimney sweep to clean the chimney and make sure its in good repair. Cleaning the chimney will help prevent chimney fires and any carbon monoxide to creep into your home. Once it’s cleaned, you can start burning the Yule log to warm up your home!
5. Restock Winter Essentials
A winter storm is bound to hit this winter, so don’t wait until last minute to buy or restock any cold-weather essentials/tools. Check your snow blower to see if it needs any repairs or grab some new shovels and salt if you need it. Just make sure you a ready when mother nature strikes with winter weather!
6. Trim Trees Away From Roof
Before it gets too cold, examine the trees around your property. Are any tree branches hanging over your roof or house? If so, try to trim your trees or any branches away from your home in order to protect it from high winds and winter weather. If you take this step, you will be protecting your home, your most valuable investment, from any possibility that the winter weather will damage it.
7. Install Door Sweeps
If you are looking to keep your house as warm as possible you might want to invest in some door sweeps. Door sweeps are easy to install and can stop drafts from entering your home under an exterior door. It’s a win-win situation!
8. Set Your Temperature Manually
One of the best practices when it comes to keeping your house warm during the winter is to set your temperature manually on your thermostat and leave it that way. Set one temperature in the morning and a second one at night. Then, once you determined the temperature settings leave it there. If you still feel a bit chilly, grab a sweater, warm socks and wear layers to stay warm instead of raising the heat.
9. Replace Furnace Filters Monthly
A dirty furnace filter can cause your heating bill to rise and not work as efficiently as it could. Make sure to check the furnace filter every one to three months during the winter so that your furnace is working efficiently!
10. Insulated Exposed Piping
If you are worried about pipes freezing and bursting, you can also insulate any exposed piping that you think has the potential to freeze. Get instructions here to help protect your pipes this winter!
Looking for a brand new home in an amazing community built for energy-efficiency in the Winter temps? Look no further than Judd Builders! With over 50 years of experience, we’ve built many planned communities that fit the modern homebuyers needs. From the hustle and bustle of Siena Place to the lovely 55 plus active adult community Meadow View Farms, there is bound to be a community that is the right fit for you! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like more information! We’d love to hear from you!