Winter months can be fun with the falling snow; however, it can also be dangerous following the winter storms and extremely cold temperatures that come with it. This rough weather can cause damage to your home and property. Therefore, preparing yourself and your home for this weather is important to prevent potential damage. How do I get ready for winter? Some of the simple things you need include adding warmer bedding to counter the low temperatures. Check out Bouclair Canada for the best bedding solutions you will love. This article presents some steps on how you can get your house ready for the winter season.
Recaulk Your Doors and Windows
This helps prevent your doors and windows from heat loss and water damage. Fortunately, an exterior caulk and a caulk gun are relatively cheap, and it takes a few hours to complete the task. To be precise, you should only caulk the outer perimeter of your doors and window molding. Utilize an exterior silicone caulk since it is rarely affected by extreme weather conditions. This means that it will not expand or shrink as the weather conditions change with different seasons.
Get Your Chimney Inspected
If your house contains a fireplace, it is best to get it cleaned and inspected before the onset of each burning season. Cleaning and inspection are necessary even if the wood is not your typical heat source or you only use the fireplace for aesthetic features.
When you ignite wood in the fireplace, the chimney can collect creosote deposits, which are highly flammable and cancerous. Thus, having the chimney inspected and maintained ensures your property and house are safe from fire accidents.
Tune and Maintain Your House Systems
The winter is the prime time for heating systems to be utilized. Get a professional to help you tune and clean your furnace to ensure the system operates efficiently during the cold months. Also, remember to change the batteries of your smoke detectors each year, and the winter months provide a great time for that.
According to research, carbon monoxide poisoning peaks during the cold season. Therefore, it is important you ensure to inspect the carbon monoxide detectors for maximum efficiency. Besides, this deadly gas is colorless and odorless and could cause harm in a few minutes; thus, a functional detector is essential.
Trim Tree Branches
This is especially important if you have trees around the house. Usually, winter snow is heavy, and an ice storm could cause even strong tree branches to break following the excessive weight. Cut down any branches hanging around the house as their weight and that of ice, could cause damage to your roofs.
Clean the Gutters
While you should clean your gutters each season, it is more critical to clean them before winter. If your home area experiences a lot of snowfall, your roof will have to bear the additional weight. Failure to clean your water gutters could create a barrier, thus elevating the chances of your home getting water damage, which can be expensive to repair.
Finally, remember to check your insurance coverage to ensure you are covered for any losses that might occur during winter.
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