Depending on where you live, the winter season can be either a dreaded time where water and snow flood into your life , or a time when you the weather changes 15 degrees and you can’t wear shorts every day. During these times it is important to make sure your house is ready for the change in weather before the weather actually strikes, since no one enjoys working on their house in the snow or the rain. The below tips are mainly for our friends in the Midwest and the East Coast so read on and leave a comment if you have a recommendations well.
Clear out the Rain Drain
Rain gutters are often overlooked until it is to late. Excess leaves or other debris lodged in them can cause unique “waterfalls” in random sides of your house, as well as too much lodged in the gutters can even cause the gutter to fall completely off. Put drain cleaning on the schedule for one of the upcoming weekends and get up there to make sure your drains are ready to properly funnel and remove water.
Check the Water Build up in your Basement
Most homeowners are aware of that part of their basement that can never seem to be fully free of water. During the rainy season you can often see an small pool converging in that area. Get rid of that with a good automatic pump. These pumps are designed to turn on when water is present and off when it is isn’t, saving you money in electricity while keeping your house free of water damage. Many can also attach to a water hose and move the water easily out of the basement.
Seal your Windows
It is often said that if you can fit a couple dollars bills in the window crack then in needs to be filled in. Sealing windows can add massive improvements to the way your house keeps in cool air during the summer and warm air during the winter. In addition, sealing up your window cracks is an easy project that can be accomplished on the weekend.
Make Sure the Water Heater is Working
During the winter months there is nothing worse then a broken water heater that forces you to take cold showers. With some many energy efficient water heaters available today there is no excuse to not invest in a new one if yours is on the fritz. There are tank water heaters and even new tankless water heaters that can reliably keep your water warm. You can even spend the time to tape insulation or a blanket around the water heater you have so that it is able to maintain its warmth better and does not need to use as much electricity
Snow Removal
If you live in an even colder climate you will want to make sure you prepare for snow as well. For many people this just means a shovel to go out and move the snow from the driveway and walkway, but there are many faster and more efficient ways to do this. Investing in snow removal chemicals that instantly melt the snow or even you own personal snow plow can go a long way to helping you enjoy the winter.
These are just a few tips on how to make sure your home is ready for the winter, but one thing is for sure, do not wait or else you will be making these improvements in the snow or rain.
If I left anything out make sure to add your recommendations in the comments.
Thanks for these tips .Specially about using chemicals to melt snow .There is snowfall for 3 months in my country
I do like these Five Tips for Preparing Your Home for Winter. A final touch would be to use a basement finishing system and then make sure the basement is taken care of throughout the year.
We always have our home heating system and water heater thoroughly checked before the winter season begins. Making sure they are in proper working condition saves me a lot of time from doing emergency repairs and gives me more time to do other things.