Top Five Tips for Winterizing Your Home

Winter is the perfect time to hunker down and enjoy the warmth of your home while the snow falls outside. If you want your home to stay cozy and safe, it’s essential to winterize it before severe weather arrives. Here are our top five tips to winterize your home and help you prepare for the colder weather.

1. Clean and Clear Gutters
As the last of the leaves fall from the trees, take a few hours to clean out your gutters. Any blockages will trap water, which can freeze and put your gutters under a lot of weight strain. What’s more, when the weather warms again, this compact ice will thaw more slowly than the snow on the roof, risking the melted water backing up and seeping into your home.

2. Have your heating system serviced
The first time you turn on your furnace for the winter, you’re likely to smell the accumulated dust in the ducts blown through your home. Before you put that furnace into regular use, you should have it serviced. An inefficient furnace can cost you hundreds of dollars over the course of the winter. A professional can test your furnace for circulation and efficiency, making sure that it can circulate hot air through your home. You can change the air filter yourself for a minor price at the hardware store. At this time, you should also make sure you have carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home, powered with fresh batteries

3. Clean your chimney
Make sure that your chimney or flue is free from obstructions before you start using your heating system every day. If you have an open fire or a stove, a blocked chimney increases the risks of a domestic fire. However, oil-fired heating with blocked flues can be just as dangerous, potentially sending lethal fume back down through the system and into your home.

4. Check Air Ducts
Similarly, make sure your air ducts are clear of debris and blockages. Clogged up ducts not only decrease the efficiency of your heating system, but they can also cause a buildup of irritants in the air indoors. This increases the risks of allergies and breathing problems, particularly in winter when you’re less likely to ventilate your home with open windows.

5. Check trees in the yard
In summer, the trees in your yard may stand a safe distance from your home. But when they’re weighed down after a heavy snowfall, they may bend and droop a little too close for comfort. And if the weight becomes too much to hold, they can cause real damage when the ice-laden branches fall against your home.

Homeownership is a big responsibility but a huge joy when you find the perfect one. We hope this list comes in handy when it’s time to start winterizing your home. The Scott Garnett Real Estate Team loves helping our clients find their next homes and walking with them through the journey of homeownership. Give us a call when you’re ready to start the search!