Whether you’re a winter enthusiast or spend your time counting the days until spring, winter does have its moments. Like snuggling up and watching TV. The change of wardrobe that comes with the season. And maybe even the break you get from months of seemingly endless yard work. Still, while downtime can do a lot to pick you up, let’s not get too comfortable. Especially since there are a bunch of things that can go wrong with your home until warmer weather returns. Here are a few winter home maintenance tips that will hold you in good stead.
Prevent Ice Dams – While they may be pretty to look at, icicles hanging from your gutters probably indicate the formation of an ice dam. If left unattended, the icicles and piled-on ice and snow behind them can result in costly roof repairs and inside water damage. To guard against that, check your attic insulation – are there gaps, is it old, and does it also cover the ceiling and walls? If not and you can’t re-insulate now, install heated gutter cables on your roof where ice dams are most likely to occur. It’s a temporary fix, but a good one.
Winter-Proof Your Plumbing – It’s amazing how much damage even a little frozen water can cause. To avoid learning that lesson the hard way, be sure to winter-proof your plumbing. Insulate exposed water pipes in unheated areas of your home, like the garage and basement. Also, shut off the water supply to outdoor spigots, drain the hoses, and add a faucet protector to help keep cold air from coming inside.
Keep Cold Air Out – A cracked windowsill here, a loose outlet cover there – all the little cracks and gaps in your home can add up to cold nights and sky-high heating bills. Walk through every room and take note of where warm air is escaping and cold air is coming in, and then seal them off accordingly.
Fireplace Inspection – A dirty chimney can put your home and family at risk. That’s why annual fireplace inspections and cleanings are so important. In the process, a professional chimney sweep will remove built-up creosote in the fireplace and chimney. Creosote can ignite and send flames flying into your living spaces. During the winter months, you also want to be sure you have a steady and abundant supply of heat. The best way to accomplish that goal is with annual preventive maintenance performed by the home comfort pros at Bob Boldt HVAC. You’ll enjoy the added comfort, lower heating bills, and longer equipment life – what’s not to love about all that? Best of all, one quick call to Bob Boldt HVAC gets it done.
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