Is your Home Ready for the Winter Season?
The holiday season has a way of sneaking up on everyone and once you know it, winter is here! Winter waits for no one.
Winterizing your home is a crucial step every season to make sure that important items in your home do not break and you can stay comfortable during the cold months. It is best to stay ahead of the season and winterize before the first frost, but if it is mid-winter and you are looking for tips to stay warm, these tips can also help!
Here are some tips to get your home ready for the winter:
- Check the Roof. The quality of your roof will determine how much of winter will be able to enter your home. If there are issues with your roof, your attic insulation becomes purposeless.
The best place to start in evaluating your roof is to head up to the attic and look for water damage, sagging, dark stains, holes, or cracks. Seeing sunlight breaking through your roof is a sign of holes, while dark streaks are a sign of leaking. Both observations must be addressed immediately.
Another way to check the state of the roof is from the outside. Asking a roofer to safely get on the roof and conduct a thorough inspection is another way to look at the quality. You will be able to see if tiles are dislodged or missing and if there are holes and cracks.
Overtime, weather will put wear and tear on your roof and need replaced every 15-30 years. Checking and maintaining your roof every year before winter will ensure it lasts longer and works to leave the winter out of your home.
- Clean Gutters and Drains. Leaves and other debris get stuck in your gutters during the summer and fall months. Backed-up gutters can cause water to collect and freeze when the temperature drops. This can cause overflowing of water and condensation on external walls that could cause damage to your home. Checking and clearing all the gullies, gutters and downpipes helps melting snow run properly down the drains.
- Draft-Proof your Home. Winter snow and cold breezes from the outside can creep in through the cracks of your windows and doors, leaving you uncomfortable and your energy bills rising. You should check all windows and doors, noting any drafts or wear and tear on weatherstripping. Replace weatherstripping on all exterior doors to help keep wind drafts and air out. Caulking windows can also be a temporary or quick fix on drafty windows. Another quick and affordable fix for drafty windows is to take a roll of plastic film and taping it to the inside of the window, sealing it with a blow dryer. This helps cut down on the infiltration of chilly air.
- Inspect your Furnace. Prepping your home for the winter means checking and changing necessary parts of your HVAC system. Start with changing all old filters and test run your furnace system before the extreme cold. If any problems arise or you would like a deeper analysis of your system, you should call a technician to take a look. They can assess any urgent or necessary issues that they recommend.
Whole Home Insulation: A Long-Term Solution
Winterization does not just include turning off your sprinkler system, uprooting your garden or cleaning your gutters but, instead, should include insulating your entire home. Although insulation is a home improvement you cannot see, it is surely one you will feel physically and financially.
Seasonal maintenance on your home can be a preventive measure in keeping costs down and the air warm, but wouldn’t you want that control all year?
Attic insulation is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to reduce energy loss - and save up to 15% on heating and cooling costs! Primary Home Improvements uses premium fiberglass insulation, and it will not change from its intended R-value over its lifetime or settle in your attic. Premium fiberglass insulation is resistant to moisture, fungus, and mold growth. This means that the R-value will not change or sag, preserving thermal performance over time.
Our exclusive RetroFoam injection foam insulation is added to the existing walls of your home without the mess of a remodel. It can be used on multiple wall types and has many benefits such as: a 30% higher R-value than traditional insulation, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, class 1 fire rated and has sound deadening affects. Even though RetroFoam has been around for more than 35 years, it is a cutting-edge and a more effective insulation solution because of how well the foam air seals in wall cavities.
Whole home insulation can take some of the temporary and seasonal tasks off your plate by providing a long-term solution to drafts, furnace usage and energy costs. Leaving you and your family more comfortable during the summer and winter months.
Begin your Insulation Project with a Free Estimate!
Primary Home Improvements can help kick-start your home insulation project.
If you live in Northeast Ohio, call 1-440-610-4792 or request a free estimate appointment for a detailed quote and advice from our Energy Consultants.
Sources:
https://www.homesandgardens.com/house-design/winterize-a-house
https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/does-my-roof-need-to-be-repaired-or-replaced-telltale-signs/
https://www.retrofoamofmichigan.com/blog/winter-energy-saving-tips-michigan
https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/home-maintenance-repairs/tips-to-get-your-house-ready-for-winter-a1-440-610-4792/