Here are some tips to prepare your home for winter.
- Check your insulation. You should consider R-30 to be the minimum. Generally older homes do not meet their requirements, therefore some should be added.
- Clean all eaves troughs of leaves and debris. Make sure water can flow freely. Check to see if any troughs are loose and if so, secure them.
- Contact a heating contractor and have your heating system checked. Make sure there is a new filter installed.
- Outdoor faucets should be shut off and drained.
- Chimneys should be cleaned and inspected. If this has not been done in awhile, don't use it until a professional has looked at it.
- Check the shingles on your house. Replace loose ones. If they appear dried out and curling, call a roofer. They may need to be replaced.
- Get your snow shovels, salt and sand ready. If you require any of these, buy them now. When they are needed in the winter, some stores run out.
- Trim trees that overhang the roof on your home. If they become weighted with snow and ice, they can damage your roof. The motion created by the wind will cause premature wear.
- If you have any water pipes that are exposed to freezing temperatures, make sure they are insulated.
- Make sure all downspouts are secure direct water away from the foundation of your home.
- Take some time and caulk around all windows, doors and exterior trim. If the existing is dried out, remove it and apply some new. Also check the weather stripping around doors and windows.
- If your home is older and has storm windows, install them before the weather gets too bad. You might also consider buying new vinyl windows as they will be more energy efficient.
Some of these steps require a professionals assistance. It will be money well spent. If you are doing any work yourself, consider that you want to keep the bad weather out. It will also help you save energy costs.
Selling your home? Check out our Durham Region Homes For Sale website.
