6 Steps to Get Your Home Ready for Winter
It’s that time of year when the fall has arrived, the leaves are changing colors, and the coldest season is right on our doorstep. The winter weather can become very harsh in Michigan, and there are certain steps every homeowner should take to ensure that their household is fully prepared for this time of year. Oftentimes, people will put off the process of preparing their homes for the winter until the harsh weather has already arrived at their doorstep. This is a risky way to approach it, as once the winter weather has already arrived, you may not only be already experiencing certain problems and inconveniences but at that point, some of these steps may also be more difficult to achieve. Instead, make the choice to be a proactive homeowner, and make the effort now to make sure that your home is ready for what lies ahead.
1. Have Your Furnace Inspected
For obvious reasons, winter is the most important time of year to have a heating system that’s running smoothly and efficiently. If your furnace is struggling to provide heat, malfunctioning, or has broken down during the cold season, it will not only cost you extra money, but it will greatly worsen the quality of life for everyone in your household. Take the opportunity now, before the winter arrives, to have a trained heating technician give your furnace a scheduled maintenance tune-up. This maintenance will ensure that the appliance is running in tiptop shape all winter long, and doing so without wasting extra energy. Additionally, your hired heating professional will be able to check for any potential problems the system may be at risk for and take preventative measures to avoid problems or breakdowns. This one small investment will allow you and your family to stay warm and comfortable, even when the weather outside is frigid and harsh.
2. Insulate Your Pipes
If your home has unprotected pipes that run through unheated areas, they are at risk for certain problems during the icy winter months. When the temperature drops below freezing, the water inside of these pipes can freeze, which can result in the pipes themselves bursting. This will not only result in a costly repair bill, but it will also have an immediate effect on the plumbing in your home, causing the comfort and quality of life to significantly decrease for the members of your household. Fortunately, insulating these pipes is fairly simple and straightforward, and you have the option of either handling the job yourself or enlisting trained professionals. If you choose to do it on your own, you can purchase the insulation at your local hardware store, cut it so that it’s the right length for your piping, and then wrap it around the pipes. Secure the insulation with duct tape, and just like that your home’s plumbing has much better protection for the harsh winter months.
3. Remove Problematic Tree Branches
During winter storms, tree limbs that are overhanging or prone to snapping off can be serious hazards for your home. Inspect the area around your home for any tree branches that are overhanging above the house itself, the driveway, powerlines, or your garage. During more extreme winter weather, these limbs can break apart or come loose, coming down on exposed parts of your property and resulting in significant damage. If you’re able to safely remove these overhanging branches yourself, take care of them, but if you aren’t sure exactly how to proceed, contact a local landscaping professional for help.
4. Seal Up Your Leaks
You may not be aware of their presence, but even very small leaks in your home can have major negative effects on your household, especially during the winter. More often than not, these leaks will manifest near the edges of doorways, windows, and garage doors. Whether the opening is large or tiny, it will allow warmth to seep out of your home and cold air to make its way inside. This will not only raise your monthly heating bills by forcing your furnace to compensate for the lost heat, but it will also make it much more difficult for you to control your climate. To help make sure that you save money and stay warm this winter, make a point to locate and seal up any leaks and cracks that are present within your household. If you aren’t certain how to proceed, hiring local ventilation experts can be a good idea for making sure that your home is properly sealed up.
5. Clean Out Your Gutters
Cleaning out your home’s gutters is an important part of preparing your household for the winter, and should be a project that only takes a few hours at most. When loose leaves and other debris build up and clog your gutters during the winter, it can turn into a big, problematic clump of icy material. This icy mass can work its way under your shingles, causing damage and leaks to take place in your roofing. It’s good to clean out your home’s gutters on a regular basis, but if you don’t do it consistently, make a point to do it at least once a year, preferably before the winter arrives. With a ladder, some gloves, and if you have access to one, a leaf blower, you can do this job yourself within a couple of hours. However, if you aren’t able to do it on your own, you can hire a handyman or landscaping company to take care of it for you quickly and thoroughly.
6. Have Your Roof Inspected
Having your roof professionally inspected regularly is an important part of maintaining your home, but it’s extra important that you do so before the harsh weather of the winter arrives. Your roof needs to be in good, sturdy condition to safely handle the winter storms, and a roofing professional will be able to handle the necessary repairs to prepare it. Damaged tiles and shingles can cause both water and cold air to leak into your home, potentially resulting in water damage and extra pressure on your heating appliance. It’s an important and worthwhile investment to get your roof inspected before the cold, stormy weather arrives, as it will be a much bigger and more expensive issue if you wait until the winter has already done its damage.
Since opening our doors in 1948, we at C & C Heating & Air Conditioning have been providing the residents of Macomb County and the surrounding areas with trusted heating and cooling services. With over six decades of expertise and experience, our friendly team of experts can be counted on to do a high-quality, dependable job every time. We always strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, and we do so by employing the best possible customer-service people and holding our team to the highest standards of customer care. We look forward to continuing to build relationships and connections with our community, and we will do so by providing consistent, reliable service.
Contact us at C & C Heating & Air Conditioning today, and get an appointment scheduled now with one of our skilled, personable team members.
