Leak Prevention
If you live in an area with terrible weather, then you may want to consider taking the time to prevent any possible sources of leaks from ruining your furniture and damaging the infrastructure of your home. The best way to do this is to look through any pipes you have that look weak or can freeze up in the home. For these pipes, you should purchase some heat tape, which is meant to keep the pipes from freezing when the weather becomes unbearably cold in the winter. Other precautionary measures you can take include turning off and draining any outdoor garden hoses, sprinklers, and faucets well before the temperatures drop to prevent potential leaks as well as frozen pipes.
Provide Extra Heat
Even if your home has radiators that seem to be working perfectly, they may not be able to match the size of your home. Also, the current heating sources may not be enough to combat the elements. In that case, it is worth considering investing in an extra source of heat, such as a pellet stove. Most people equate these handy pieces of equipment with something that pizza makers use, and while that’s a nice hobby for you to pick up in the middle of the winter, pellet stoves made for the home are quite different. If you like the idea of having a makeshift fireplace set up in your home when things get extra dicey, then this is definitely the way to go. However, deciding on the best pellet stove may seem a bit tricky, but make sure you research the different models available. Some are huge, others will be a bit more modest in size, while still proving to be powerful machines. In any case, you’re bound to find the right one for you if you do some snooping around.
Take Care of Your Yard
For both the front yard and back yards, you’ll need to do a bit of pruning ahead of winter. The most important task will be trimming the branches off of trees that seem to be dangling near your roof. This is because you run the risk of having branches fall on your home in the middle of a storm, causing further damage. Any itinerant tree branches or limbs within a few feet of your house should be taken care of well before a winter storm strikes.
Store Outdoor Furniture
Things like the grill, your beloved patio furniture set, and so on, need to be covered and hidden away once winter strikes. Bring what you can indoors, and everything else should be covered with a waterproof cloth – especially the grill, which should be cleaned first before stowing it away. Also, if you happen to have a wooden deck or patio, make sure to cover it with a sealant to help protect it from water damage.
Check the Roof
The roof absolutely needs to be inspected before winter hits. You can hire a professional, or do it yourself if you feel up to it. In any case, make sure that whoever takes care of the inspection checks the shingles to ensure none are damaged or frayed, as well as the areas in which the opposing sides of the roof meet for any potential source of leaks. Also, make sure that the gutters are clean and free of debris since you don’t want anything clogging them up. The added weight can harm your roof and cause severe damage when a big storm hits.
Whether you are a homeowner in the middle of the city, or in a rural area far from any central hub, there’s a lot you need to do to take care of your house before winter strikes. Regular maintenance ahead of major seasonal changes is what helps to ensure that you don’t suffer through any property damage and that you’re able to keep your family safe and healthy.
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