Winter is quickly approaching, and if you’re a homeowner, that means one thing: it’s time to winterize your property.
Here are a few maintenance “Must Do’s” that will protect your home, lower heating bills, and keep your home cozy during the colder months.
- Disconnect all outdoor hoses, drain and store them inside a heated space if possible. I know you’ve heard this before, but truly this is the MOST Important item. Frozen and burst pipes are a very costly repair that you want to avoid.
- Use caulk or weather stripping to close up any gaps around doors or windows. If caulking or weather stripping are outside of your talents, there is also an expandable foam stripping with sticky back that works well. Just cut to length, peel off the backing, and press into place, Done!
- If you have older windows in your home, it’s a good idea to apply shrink wrap, the full window kits can be found at your local hardware store. Covering the glass provides additional insulation which will help keep the inside of your home warmer and prevent ice from forming on the glass.
- Replace the filter on your furnace and HVAC system. When possible, it’s good to choose a filter that is designed specifically for winter use. These filters help to remove odors that may linger while homes are closed up tighter during the colder weather.
- Put up your Christmas lights. As it may be necessary to step on your shingles in order to put up the lights, it’s better to do it before freezing temperatures sets in. This will avoid cracking the edges of the shingles when the asphalt material becomes more brittle.
- While you’re up on the roof, now is a great time to fix any spots in your eaves that have been leaking with a product such as “Flex Seal”, (a liquid rubber sealant). Since we experience many freeze/thaw cycles here in Alberta, it’s important to prevent icy patches from forming on the concrete areas below, which could cause a nasty fall and potentially damage driveways & walkways.
Winterizing is an important part of regular home maintenance that can keep your home comfortable during the colder months, and avoid uncomfortable repairs in the spring. If you need assistance, we’re happy to help you find the right product, or maybe the right person, to complete the tasks that make your home winter ready!
Sincerely,
The Rosts
Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed.