Getting Your Home Ready for Winter

As a homeowner, your house is always your main line of defense between your family and the forces of nature. Its walls block the powerful winds that pass outside. The roof prevents wind and heavy rain from intruding. The insulation and your heating and cooling system keep a comfortable temperature inside, regardless of how distressing the outdoors may be. 

Now, as the days begin to shorten and the signs of winter start to set in, remember that you can do plenty to smooth the transition. Extreme weather occurs between November and March. Plummeting temperatures and heavy precipitation in the form of rain, sleet, snow, and ice provide challenges to homes. The sum of a home and its parts are tested most during these times. 

As your home’s best ally, here are several tasks any homeowner can do to prevent those undesired winter disasters you’ve been warned about. 

Freezing or Bursting Pipes

Arguably, frozen pipes are one of the biggest calamities facing homeowners during the winter. Frozen pipes can be costly, most often resulting in $20,000 or above in repairs and insurance claims. Frozen pipes happen because pipes are composed of different compounds of metal, and when metal encounters water with temperatures hovering in the freezing zone, metals break. 

To prevent this from happening to you, be sure to walk around your house and mark any pipes found outdoors. Pipes found in garages or uninsulated areas of your home will also apply. Cover each bare or questionable pipe with sturdy insulation or heat tape. A cheap and easy way to insulate pipe is to wrap with cardboard. 

Also, drain any pool areas. If you are worried about your pipes freezing, keep the connecting faucet at a drip during cold months. This will keep liquid moving in the area. 

Checking Your Heat Sources

The holiday months that come during winter are times when most everyone is staying inside. A working heating system is a must and the best time to conduct a survey of it is before the bitter cold (a trip to a snowy roof is a big mistake). 

When checking the water heater, start by flushing the system. The pressure relief valve inside the heater is critical to the varying degrees of water heat. Turn the system off and on to make sure the valve is correct in stopping and starting water flow to the rest of the house. Replacing air filters within your home’s heating system will keep heating costs down as a whole within the system. 

Make Sure your Smoke Detectors Work

Though you may not have thought about them unless you’ve burnt the family dinner, fire alarms, and carbon monoxide alarms are essential year-round. During the winter, they hold importance because they are the first to let you know if your heater is in working order or producing foul air. 

A simple change of batteries is usually the main plan of action, but you may want to go the extra mile for the winter. If your systems are often set-off unexpectedly or for no apparent reason, a replacement may be in order. Also, if your system emits short, periodic beeps without anyone touching it, that may be signs for early replacement. 

These devices are not infallible. Whether your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are battery-operated or hardwired into your home’s electrical systems, monthly checks should always be conducted.   

Tending to these small tasks can add up to large results when winter arrives. Your extra planning and care will ensure that your home is the refuge you need it to be, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re prepared for the worst that winter can bring.