The winter storms have officially begun, the northern parts of the United States are being bombarded with snow. While a White Christmas seems pretty idyllic, there are certain precautions that should be taken to protect your home from the wintry effects.
One of the biggest and simplest ways to stay prepared is to have your heating system regularly checked by an HVAC specialist. Changing your furnace filter at the start of every winter and every 2-4 months after that is imperative to the system running properly. Once the filter becomes dirty or clogged, it won’t heat your house properly and runs more of a risk of starting a fire.
We’ve gathered a few other tips to prepare your home for the cold temperatures, and even the much anticipated, sometimes dreaded, snow.
Reseal Visible Gaps
Visible gaps around your doors and windows can make it difficult to maintain your home’s warmth during the winter months. These cracks can be resealed using caulk or weather stripping, and are relatively inexpensive ways to help you keep your home running efficiently. If you don’t already have insulated doors and double-paned glass windows, these upgrades can also help to keep the cold out and the warm in.
Keep Your Pipes Protected
When water freezes, it expands. If the water inside your pipes freezes, the pipes can become so overloaded with frozen water they can crack and burst. This can cause massive damage and can be extremely expensive to fix. To keep this from happening, it’s a good idea to drain any water from outdoor faucets and your yard’s sprinkler system, as well as disconnecting your hoses and cover your faucets with insulators.
It’s also a good idea to know where your water shut-off valve is located in case of an emergency. Usually, these are in a basement or buried toward the street in your front yard.
Make Sure Your Attic is Cool & Roof is Clear
If your attic is too warm, it can cause snow to melt and pool in the middle of your roof, draining toward the gutters and re-freezing. By keeping your attic at a cooler temperature, you can avoid this disaster. You can keep your attic sufficiently cool by making sure the ventilation is running properly, sealing any cracks in the ceiling to the attic, and keeping the floor insulated so that heat doesn’t seep in from the house.
Clean Your Gutters
Having clogged or dirty gutters can result in an ice dam when snow begins to stick. An ice dam occurs when snow and ice melt during the day and refreezes throughout the night. The ice becomes trapped in your gutters and can clog them, preventing them from filtering properly. Make sure your gutters are clear from any debris, to avoid this nasty situation.
Ensure Your Fireplace & Chimney are Safe
There aren’t many activities more festive for the holidays than sitting by the fireside drinking something warm and festive. But before you can do that, it’s important to ensure your fireplace and chimney are free from debris or critters. Calling a professional chimney sweep before you light your first fire is also a good plan. They can clean up soot and other debris that could catch fire that you may not even see.
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No matter where you live, each of these principles is a good way to ensure your home is running as efficiently as possible throughout the chill of the winter season. We want you to have a safe and happy holiday season, and we’re here to help.
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from the team at Armor Building Solutions!
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