Preparing Your Home for the Winter Cold

The cold of winter is upon us. Before we know it, the ground will be covered with snow and everyone we see will be wearing snow boots, winter coats, and scarfs. We will be turning the furnace on and lighting the fireplace. We will be spending more time indoors, as it is just too cold outside. A lot of preparations are made to brave the cold of the winter, many of these to increase the warmth of the home. The home is the one refuge from extremely cold temperatures and large amounts of snow. The fall is the perfect time to begin preparing for the cold of the winter.

Turn on the furnace before needed, for a thorough inspection. The fall is the perfect time to test out the furnace. The furnace is a necessity during the winter. Without it, the temperature of the home will quickly drop and the interior pipes can freeze. This can prevent the plumbing system from working, and can be very costly to the homeowner. The fall is the best time to have routine inspections and needed maintenance done on the furnace, as it is still warm enough to not use it yet.

Have the roof professional inspected for any needed repairs. The roof is an important part in heating and insulating the home. It is also the part of the home that will hold excess amounts of snow. In states that get upwards of multiple feet of snow, the roof may need to hold several pounds of snow. A commercial roof may require additional strength, as commercial buildings tend to be larger and commercial roofing services tend to be more expensive. Commercial roofing materials may be more expensive than residential roofing materials.

There are currently over 50,000 establishments engaged in the installation, roofing, siding, and sheet metal work. Finding an experienced and knowledgeable roofing contractor should not be too difficult. However, it is important to find one to complete a routine inspection and make any necessary repairs before the snowfall of winter begins. It may also be necessary to choose a roofing contractor who is experienced with replacing roofs. They need to have the ability to recommend a roof that is durable and strong. Durability was identified as the number one factor (by 88% of participants in a survey) when determining which new roof to purchase, followed closely by longevity (83%).

The roof inspection may also include things like gutter inspection and any needed leaky repairs. The gutter is important in filtering out excess weight off of the roof. The leaky repairs can prevent any problems from getting worse. These are great ways to maintain the durability and longevity of the roof.

Repair and replace any windows. Windows are also tasked with keeping high winds and the cold of the winter out. A window that is broken is not properly insulating the home. It is also releasing the heat of the furnace. This can result in a colder home and in increased energy bills, as much of the heat is leaving the home. A replacement window may be needed when the window is broken. A replacement window however can save hundreds of dollars in energy costs. A replacement window can also increase the overall comfort of the home.

Budget properly for home improvements. Homeowners should always have an emergency or savings fund to make any necessary repairs or upgrades. These repairs, such as the roofing repair or the replacement window may be needed to effectively warm the home. On average, homeowners will spend between 1 and 4% of a home?s value annually on maintenance and repairs, which tend to increase as the house ages. This budget tip is important in completing necessary pre winter housing tasks.

Winter will be here before we even realize it. The temperatures have already begun to lower. In a matter of months, the snow will follow. Right now is the perfect time to begin preparing the home for the cold winter temperatures and the many inches of snowfall. Preparing the home can increase the warmth of the home and decrease the energy costs.