Prepare Your Home for Winter:

Easy Preventative Maintenance

Introduction:

As the weather cools and we settle into fall, it's time to start thinking about preparing our homes for winter. For many of us, that means breaking out the snow shovels and making sure the furnace is working. But there's more to it than that. A little preventative maintenance now can save you a lot of money and headaches down the road.

Here are a few easy things you can do to get your home ready for winter:

1. Inspect your roof and gutters. Make sure that there are no loose or missing shingles and that your gutters are clean and free of debris. Clogged gutters can cause water to back up and freeze, which can damage your gutters and cause leaks in your roof. In addition, damaged or clogged gutters can lead to water settling along your foundation and can contribute to settling or expansion cracks in your foundation. Check both your roof and gutters and exterior drainage around your foundation.

2. Disconnect all hoses from exterior faucets and drain them. This will prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting when the temperatures drop. Frozen pipes are one of the most common winter weather problems faced by homeowners. To avoid this, make sure that any exposed pipes are properly insulated. You may also want to consider leaving a trickle of water running through any vulnerable pipes overnight to help prevent them from freezing solid. Make sure that you know where your main water shut-off valve is located so that you can quickly turn off the water if a pipe does burst. Lastly, if you have a sprinkler system, contact a local small business to help do a sprinkler blow-out and ensure that your system won't burst so that you can have it ready for next year.

3. Inspect your windows and doors. Look for cracks or gaps around windows and doors where heat can escape. These can be sealed with caulk or weatherstripping.

4. Have your furnace serviced by a professional. This will ensure that it is running efficiently and safely. Your heating systems will be working overtime to heat your home during the colder months. Making sure they are properly maintained now will save you time and money later. This includes everything from checking the filters in your furnaces to making sure your boilers have enough water. Depending on the type of system you have, you may also want to consider having a professional come out and inspect it to ensure that everything is in working order.

5. Add insulation to your attic if needed. Insulation will help keep heat in your home, saving you money on your energy bills. Insulation can also be added into your walls, sunroom, garage and other areas you don't want to have to spend money heating.

By taking a little time now to do some easy preventative maintenance, you'll be prepared for whatever Old Man Winter throws our way this year!

Conclusion:

Winter is just around the corner, so now is the time to start preparing your home! A little preventative maintenance now can save you a lot of money and headaches down the road. Inspect your roof and gutters, disconnect hoses from exterior faucets, seal cracks around windows and doors, have your furnace serviced, and add insulation to your attic if needed. By taking these steps, you'll be prepared for whatever Old Man Winter throws our way this year!

We're here to help with all of your real estate needs here in Colorado and across the United States. If you or anyone you know is thinking about buying or selling in the near future, we're prepared to help you maximize your efforts and minimize your stress so that you can have an enjoyable experience. Call, text or email and one of our amazing team members will assist you.

Contact me if you need any help finding local qualified vendors anywhere in Colorado, specifically Lakewood and Northern Colorado, to help you get your house ready for winter. We work with some of the best people around that can ensure your house is ready for the upcoming months. Don't hesitate to reach out.

Disclaimer* Our vendors have done great work for our clients in the past, however, they do not work for us directly and we cannot guarantee the price or quality of work that they provide you on your upcoming work. They are merely suggestions, and you have the option to choose who you work with.