Winter is fast approaching, and as many responsible homeowners know, that doesn’t mean it’s only time to get ready for holidays, nights by the fire and hot chocolate. It unfortunately also means it’s time for some chores around the house, especially those that prepare a house for winter. A house that hasn’t been properly prepared can run into all sorts of problems and even some dangerous hazards. If you are new to home ownership or haven’t properly prepared your home for winter before, read ahead for some useful advice.
Skilled workman in various trades such as Calgary house siding, plumbing, or furnace repair, often have a good idea of what it takes to prepare a home, so here are some great tips from them available for your reading convenience:
Let’s start with the inside of your house. One of the most important things you can do is to have your furnace tuned up by a professional. This ensures your furnace and heating system will work properly when it is needed, and that it won’t develop major problems such as carbon monoxide leaks. Most experts will tell you that this is the single most important thing you can do on the inside of your home.
While the work is outside, cleaning your chimney has a direct impact on the internal safety of your house. A quick chimney sweep can make sure your fireplace functions correctly and using it will not result in a chimney fire. Once again you can hire a professional, or attempt to do it yourself. One advantage of getting up on the roof yourself is that you will be able to inspect other things for your winter prep checklist.
For starters, most Calgary house siding experts recommend you inspect all the siding on your house prior to winter. As you work your way up the siding, check out the gutters, and finally the roof. Any cracks or areas where water can get in should be addressed immediately. Clogged gutters should be cleaned out to prevent water damming and huge icicles. If you don’t trust your own ability for an inspection, call an expert Calgary house siding company and have them do it for you.
Once all that is finished take the time to turn off external water faucets and properly seal up the windows, if necessary—this may include storm windows or extra caulking around the edges. Finally, drain your lawn mower of fluids and stow it out of the way, like at the back of a garage or shed. Pull out your snow blower and make sure it is in working condition with new fluids. Test it out at least once before a major snowfall to prevent any emergencies. Make sure you also place snow shovels in an easily accessible area with plenty of salt as well.
Properly preparing your home for winter requires just a little planning ahead and minimal work. You can do most of the work yourself and it will barely take any time at all, a small price to spend to ensure your house is in working order and you are prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws your way.