Winter weather can be hard on your home. Stay warm, save money, and protect your home from winter's worst with some of these reminders...

Check Your Trees

Before any rough winter storms hit, do an inspection of the trees around your property to make sure there are no dead trees in danger of falling or branches that are up against your house. Scan your property for branches that are growing over the house, garage, driveway, or power lines that could cause problems in winter storms.

Clean Your Gutters

Once the leaves are off the trees, give your gutter a good cleaning. When gutters back up, they overflow which can cause deterioration on the sides of your home and foundation, water leaks into the basement, and many other problems.

Have Your Chimney & Fireplace Cleaned

If you have a fireplace and chimney, make sure you get a thorough inspection before you start using it for the season. A good chimney sweep will make sure it is safe to use and identify any maintenance problems you may have. It's also a good idea to start ordering your firewood and store it in a safe place in the yard, away from your home.

Check Your HVAC System

Before the weather turns cold, have your system inspected by a reputable HVAC contractor. It's far better to find HVAC problems in the fall than on the first cold day of winter. And make sure you're replacing your filters regularly to keep the system functioning its best.

Test Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

It's always good to test your systems twice a year to make sure they are working properly and communicating to each other. Most house fires happen in the wintertime, so make sure your safety devices are working properly before an issue occurs.

Take Care of Your Pipes

Once cold weather sets in, make sure all your outdoor hoses are disconnected and properly stored. You should also cover the outside faucets with insulated covers which can keep frozen water outside the house and not let it into your pipes. Any exposed pipes that run along a wall in an unheated area (common in basements and crawl spaces) can be a potential hazard. Invest in some pipe insulation and keep an eye on those pipes when the temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Keep the Cold Outside

Go through your home and check for any drafts that may be coming in. Common places to find issues are window frames, fireplaces, dryer vents, and any other spot where something inside your home passes to the outside. Caulk any cracks or crannies to keep the cold out and enjoy the benefit of energy savings too.

Preparing for the cold days of winter may not be one of the most fun aspects of home ownership, but it is one of the most important. Taking some time to prepare your home before the temperatures drop can make a big difference in staying warm and protecting your home this winter.

If you have questions about winterizing your home, finding the right contractors to help with projects, or other questions about real estate and home ownership, our team would be glad to help! Call us at (434) 214-6121 to speak with an agent about how we can help.

We hope you enjoy your winter!