Keep Your Home Looking It’s Best in the Winter

 

Winters can be extremely harsh on your home and a storm could cause a lot of damage not only to the inside of your home but also the outside. If you want to avoid those costly repairs, make sure that your home is ready for winter. It’s not always easy to know how you could prepare your home and protect your property for the cold weather but there are a few simple tips that can assist you for these tips. 

1. Check Drainage and Gutters: With intense winters can also come intense rainfall. While cleaning out the gutter is not the best job in the world, it will also save you a lot of money in the long run. Well maintained gutters can reduce the need to replace them as well as the chance of having any roof damage in the future. A clogged gutter and break and overflow which puts strain on your roof. It can also fill with ice which then wil thaw and amage and strain your gutter system. Set your ladder against the side of the house and scoop out the dirt with a small shovel. Dump it into a bag or tarp so you don’t put it on your lawn. Flush out the gutter with the house for a full clean and make sure your gutters are checked for any other signs of drainage issue. You want to check your basement for any water damage stains and your attic for mildew. Both them can indicate that your drainage system isn’t working, especially if you have an older homes. 

2. Check Dryer Vents: When the cold months set in, the dryer is liketely to get more use. Dryers can also be a fire szard which actually causes over 15,000 fires eachc year so it is important to reduce that risk. Make sure to remove any built up lint from the dryer in order to reduce the fire risk and improve your household energy efficiency. One of the first things you can do is clean the lint filter. Do this after everywhere drying experience. You can also find this component towards the front of your dryer. Slide the filter out and scrape off any lint. If you want, you can use a small vacuum to take out any lint caught in the lint trap too. Replace the filter after cleaning it. Anything big task is to clean the lint vent. You can find these in the back of the dryer, and if you have any trouble locating them check the instructions in your manual. Twist a brush when you pull it out and make sure to beg entle. Hold the vent upright and use the deduct to brush down the piping. Reconnect the vent and turn your dryer on for about 15 minutes which wil then force the air through the vent and will blow out any lint that might have been stuck in the outer vent as well. 

Image: Peter’s Roofing

3. Get In Professionals: If you aren’t sure if your roof needs help because you’re too nervous to head up there, call in the professionals to do the hard work for you. Peter’s Roofing is the one stop shop for all your roofing needs. They assist you in checking your roof, the shingles as wel las installing the roof if you need to start from scratch. The friendly staff also has a variety of services such as attic fans, chimney and gutter help. If you are thinking that the roof is something that needs to be looked, many recommend a Newark NJ roofing repair company to call and help you out. 

4. Seak Doors and Windows : A big thing to help you during the winter is checking your doors and windows for any air that might occur. When you close the lock do you notice any gap between the seals? If you have any old windows, you can add new weatherstripping.There is a variety you can choose from including an EPDM rubber meets in the middle and it can last up to 10 years at the least. Once you have changed the weatherstripping on your windows. You can also use foam tape that has an adhesive backing, or felt that is cheap and easy to install but it has a low durability and will need replacing more often. 

As you can see, there are plenty of things for you to do when performing winter home maintenance to protect yourself from a harsh winter. By weatherproofing, check your home so you can ensure that the cold and wet stays outside and not in your home.