It’s now officially fall, which means it’s time to prepare your home for the colder weather that’s fast approaching. If you live in an area with chilling temperatures and frequent snowfall, being properly prepared is especially important. Maybe you’ve just purchased your first home and you aren’t sure how to get it ready for the colder weather? You don’t need to worry. Check out the great tips I’ve compiled below. We’re taking it back to the basics so that you’ll be able to build the right foundation that will outlast the chilling upcoming season.
Check Your Roof
Properly insulating your roof is especially important because heat rises. If there isn’t proper insulation at the top of your house, heat will seep out and you’ll end up paying much higher heating costs. Besides keeping the heat in, you want to keep the cold out! Insulation will help prevent that, as will having your roof checked and repaired before the weather hits. Check for holes or shabby roofing yourself, and then call someone if there are repairs that need to be made. It’s also a great idea to check your gutters. Cleaning your gutters properly so snow and ice doesn’t build up and leak back into your home is an essential step!
Insulation
You’ll want to check your entire home for any insulation issues, not just the roof. You can caulk areas yourself or call a professional. Double check windows, since that’s often a problem area when it comes to bad insulation. You can also install heavier curtains and keep them drawn at night and on especially cold days to keep the cold out and the heat inside. Make sure to examine your heating ducts as well. They’re normally out of sight, so wear and tear may go unnoticed. Without proper ducts, you’ll lose heat and end up paying higher heating costs.
Turn Off Water
This tip is especially important because if you don’t properly handle your water pipes they can burst, which could cause flooding and astronomical costs to fix the damage. If you live in your house year-round, you don’t need to worry about this for indoor pipes, but pay attention to your exterior water sources. Drain your pipes and lawn irrigation systems, them shut off the water to those locations. Also make sure you bring in hoses so they don’t freeze or get damaged during the winter. Far too many people forget to winterize their outdoor areas.
Lawn Care
When mowing your lawn in the fall, mulch your leaves with the mower instead of raking them up. Mix the leaves with some kind of lawn fertilizer and add this mixture to your lawn, plants, and trees so they’re nourished during the colder weather. This season is also a great time to aerate your lawn and prune trees and shrubs! Wrap any delicate plants, bushes, or trees in burlap so the cold doesn’t harm them. Also, water your trees every few weeks because fall and winter months can be pretty dry. Once you’ve done everything, properly store your lawn equipment somewhere that it won’t be damaged by ice and snow.