- 05 Oct, 2021
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It's fall, y'all! Now that fall is here, it's time to get your home ready for the cold days of winter. There's much to do around the house to prepare your home for the coming season that is a bit different than preparing your home for summer. With freezing temperatures comes frozen pipes, damage to sprinkler systems, ice dams on the roof, and more. You can prevent all of that by taking care of your house today. Here's what you need to know.
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Windows and Doors
Windows and doors can be a source of drafts when the temperatures drop. You can prepare your windows and doors for this problem by installing weather stripping, and by taking other weatherizing measures.
- Inspect caulking and replace if needed
- Inspect windows for broken glazing and replace
- Refinish or repaint the door or window frame
It's important to know when to repair or replace a window or door. Look for signs of leaks, such as wood rot, mold, mildew, water stains, bubbling, or peeling paint. Look for these problems around the frame and in the drywall around the window or door.
Wooden doors can become damaged by water over time if they're not properly maintained. If this has happened to your door, have it repaired or replaced.
Gutter Cleaning
Gutters are an important part of your home's drainage system. They carry water away from your roof and direct water from your home's foundation.
Gutters fill with debris as the wind blows leaves and pollen from trees. Many gutters become clogged over the course of the summer. By fall, they're overflowing.
Have your gutters cleaned before winter arrives? You can clean the gutters yourself, but DIY gutter cleaning can be dangerous - especially if your house is two stories tall. Did you know that we are offering 10% off gutter cleaning services in 2021? If you book and pay your deposit between October 15 - November 30, 2021, you'll receive a 10% discount! Contact our team for more details.
If you're tired of cleaning your gutters every year, consider installing a gutter guard product to shield your gutters from the worst of the debris. Consider trimming back overhanging trees to prevent the leaves from filling your gutters so quickly.
Heating Systems
Turn on your heating system before the cold weather arrives. Check the air at the vents to ensure it's coming out at a warm temperature. Your heating system is crucial at this time of year. Hire a professional to clean and service your furnace, to ensure it's ready to function throughout the winter. When you hire a professional for an HVAC tune-up, you can expect them to:
- Inspect the mechanical parts
- Clean the internal parts
- Check connections
- Test parts for proper functioning
- Diagnose issues
- Recommend repairs if needed
Plumbing
Pipes can easily freeze on cold winter nights, especially if your home lacks proper insulation. Insulating your pipes and walls can prevent this from happening. Pipe insulation is available for sale in home improvement centers and hardware stores.
You can install this type of insulation yourself, or hire a contractor to do it. You may not be able to reach all your pipes to insulate them, as many of your home's pipes are buried in the walls.
Next time you repipe your home, talk to your contractor about insulating the pipes that run along the outside of your home.
Fireplace
Fireplaces need to be cleaned every fall before the start of the winter - even if you didn't use your fireplace last winter. Your chimney may have become clogged in spring, maybe with a dead animal or a birds nest.
In addition, your chimney liner could have developed cracks or other damages since the last time it was inspected. If you plan to use your fireplace this winter, have it inspected and cleaned now. If your contractor recommends repairs, have them made before using your fireplace.
Does your chimney have a cap on it? If it doesn't, have a cap installed. Chimney caps can prevent animals from entering your home through your chimney. They also protect your chimney and fireplace from precipitation.
Oh! And one more reason to have your chimney inspected: the brick and mortar on your chimney can start to deteriorate with time. If the mortar deteriorates enough, your chimney could become structurally unstable!
Winterize Outdoor Lawn Equipment
Lawn equipment and lawn furnishings can be damaged by exposure to rain and snow. Bring in your lawn equipment and furnishings to protect them from the elements. Before putting this equipment away for the winter, wash and dry pieces of furniture that have accumulated dirt over the course of the summer.
Never put iron furniture or metal objects away wet. Store these items in a part of your garage where they will stay dry all winter long.
Insulation and Ventilation
Insulation and ventilation play a critical role in your home's attic. Poke your head up in your attic to look for insulation. If your insulation doesn't rise above the joists, then your attic needs more insulation.
The insulation needs to be installed evenly throughout the attic to prevent "hot spots," which can cause ice dams when the snowfalls. It's important to have more insulation installed by a professional.
The professional you hire should be able to inspect your attic's ventilation at the same time, to ensure that your attic has proper airflow. This too can help prevent ice dams, and also stops your attic from accumulating condensation and moisture that can lead to mold, rot, and so on.
Get Your Home Ready for Winter
At Louisville Handyman & Remodeling, we help homeowners with their seasonal maintenance lists. Contact Louisville Handyman & Remodeling to get your home ready for the coming winter. We'll do the work for you - so you can relax! We perform gutter cleaning, attic insulation services, winterizing, weatherizing, weatherstripping, door repair and replacement, window repair and replacement, and more. Call today to get started!
