As cooler weather arrives and the holidays approach, it is no surprise that some people view the winter season as one of the best times of the year. However, during winter, heating bills can skyrocket and your home is more susceptible to damage from harsh weather. To prevent problems, it’s important to stay on top of winter home maintenance. Taking care of these tasks will help keep your home in top shape and prepared for the cold temperatures that the season brings.
Winter Home Maintenance Tasks
1. Cover Bare Flooring
Some types of flooring, like tile and hardwood, are beautiful and functional but can be cold underfoot in winter. Fortunately, keeping your floors warmer is as simple as adding rugs to your living spaces. You’ll reduce heat loss, add to the decor, and make the home more comfortable for bare feet.
2. Winter Home Maintenance Includes Checking the Pipes
Freezing cold temperatures can lead to plumbing issues. Your pipes risk bursting when the water freezes, causing leaks and water damage in your home. If not remedied, structural damage can also occur.
To prevent this, insulate your plumbing pipes before temperatures drop. Wrap them in insulating foam or apply warming tape to the pipes. This is especially important for pipes on the exterior walls and in poorly heated areas of your home.
3. Clearing Ice Dams is Part of Winter Home Maintenance
As the weather becomes extremely cold, ice dams may form along the eaves of your roof, stopping any melted snow from draining. This can cause damage to your ceilings or walls as the water leaks through your roof. Unfortunately, because of the location of this problem, most people don’t realize ice dams are an issue until the damage has been done.
To make sure ice dams don’t form, the roof needs to be the same temperature throughout and your gutters should be clean and free of debris. You may need to boost ventilation and add protective layers of insulation to the attic.
4. Prepare for Winter Storms
Winter storms can be unexpected and losing power is inconvenient. Prepare for severe weather by gathering supplies for a power outage. Have a stash of non-perishable foods and enough water to last your family several days.
Ideally, you’ll have at least one gallon of water per person, per day. Purchase a small generator and keep it fueled in case of a blackout. Have flashlights and fresh batteries on hand and purchase a camp stove or grill so you’re able to prepare food if the electricity goes out.
Homeworx Services, Inc. offers home inspection services to customers in Northern Virginia. Contact us to request an appointment.