Winter Weather Preparations to Get a Head Start On

It always seems that the first night of colder weather, something goes wrong with the fireplace that worked seamlessly the winter before! Follow these quick-and-easy winter preparation to do right NOW! You never know, a cheap prevention could save you big bucks later in the season.

#1

Buy a protector for your outdoor faucet: A little-frozen water damage can cost you up to $15,000, yet is so easy to prevent. The simplest thing to do is to remove your garden hose from your outdoor faucet and drain it. Then add a faucet protector to keep cold air from getting into your pipes.

#2

Add insulation to prevent ice dams: Icicles are a clear sign that you’ve got an ice dam, which is exactly what it sounds like: a buildup of ice on your gutter or roof that prevents melting snow and ice from flowing through your gutters. That’s really bad news because these icy blocks can lead to expensive roofing repairs. Depending on location and the severity of each ice dam, you could be looking at $500/each.

#3

Clean your gutters: If your gutters are clogged than water is completely missing your gutter system and it is being directed to your foundation instead. Water damaged foundation is never cheap to fix, therefore, staying current with your gutter cleaning is key.

#4

Seal all leaks: Cracks can be easily and inexpensively sealed with a simple tube of caulk, and it’s available in hundreds of colors to match your window panes, outside siding, and even brick. 

#5

Program your thermostat: This is a simple and can go a LONG way. Investing in a programmable thermostat can save you about 10% off your energy bill, according to the U.S Department of energy.

#6

Get a furnace tune-up: “Forget to service your furnace and you could easily cut five years off the life of your system,” says Danny Lipford, home improvement expert and host of the “Today’s Homeowner” television and radio shows. New units can cost around $4,000 installed, making the $125 annual maintenance charge a no-brainer.

#7

Get a Fireplace inspection: This one could put both your family and your home at risk.  Schedule your maintenance appointment as early as you can.”If you wait until the busy season, you’ll have a hard time getting them out there, you’ll pay more, and you’ll get a lower quality job,” says Lipford.

This blog post was inspired by the original posting on HouseLogic.com