5 Ways to Winter-Proof Your Home

Cold winter weather can make you want to stay indoors, and forget about housing maintenance. There are several precautions you can take to winter-proof your home, while the weather is still manageable.

Maintaining Efficiency:

An efficient home will help homeowners stay warm, while keeping electric bills low. Most heating systems run all winter, so it is important for health and heating efficiency to change your HVAC filters each month. Heat rises, so for added home efficiency, check the insulation on your ceilings and in your attic. Sealing areas around your attic hatch will help keep heat locked into your home.

Create a Safe Home:

Harsh winter weather often poses weather emergencies. Preparing your home for blackouts and snow-ins can help make inclement weather a stress-free situation. Arming your home with bottled water, flashlights, and nonperishable food items can help your family fare well during blackouts or snow-ins. Another way to keep your home safe is by checking your smoke detectors for charged batteries and make sure your fire extinguishers are fully charged.

Outdoor Maintenance:

Cold winter weather may make you want to abandon yard work, but it is still important to maintain your yard. Keeping your house clear of tree branches is a good way to winter-proof your home, because icy branches can damage windows. Full gutters can affect your homes foundation, so to avoid foundation cracks through the winter, clean your gutters right after fall.

Holiday Décor:

Another way you can winter-proof your home from the outside, is by putting up safe holiday decorations. Most people reuse their decorations, so make sure you inspect the wires on electrical decorations. Frayed wires can present an electrical fire inside or outside of your home. If your home has a live Christmas tree, make sure it stays hydrated. Dry trees are more likely to catch on fire.

Safe Pipes and Chimney:

Checking your home’s chimneys and pipes are an essential way to winter-proof your home. Consistent cold temperatures can freeze pipes, so if the forecast calls for freezing temperatures, let water drip from faucets overnight. Another way to prevent frozen pipes is by occasionally opening cabinets that hide pipes. This allows warm air to circulate over cold pipes. It is a good idea to clean your chimneys at least once a year, because clean chimneys are less likely to catch fire.

Winter-proofing your home will help you and your family have a safe, efficient winter. Stay cozy!