As the winter starts to approach, there is a lot you need to do around the home before it gets here. Without the proper care and maintenance, your home may have a lot of problems, especially in places where the weather changes drastically. Here are the top things you need to service around your home before winter.
Heat and Air Conditioning
The first thing you should look into and service is your heating and air conditioning. Your heat systems are very important for both you and your home as you make it through the winter cold. Your air conditioning’s almost as important, as they can be the same systems, and bad air conditioning systems can lose you a lot of heat in the wintertime.
Weatherproofing
Any entrances or windows with a direct connection with the outside should go through weatherproofing. This helps keep heat in your home and can prevent damage from the cold weather. Look at windows, doors, and vents that lead outside for this step.
Pipes and Drains
A huge problem in the winter months are frozen pipes and drains as they eventually leak and cause massive damage in the home. Either turn off all the water in the pipes or let the pipes flow constantly by letting your faucets drip so you can avoid freezing water in the pipes.
Septic Systems
Luckily, septic systems are weatherproof by design, so you don’t need too much prep. As long as you keep up with your septic tank repair schedule and break any clogs quickly, you only need to worry about frozen pipes and inspecting the drain field.
Gutters
You should clean out your gutters before it gets too cold, as the weight of any leavers or other debris can be too much for your gutters when icicles start forming. At least once before the first freezing days, hire someone who can clean your gutters.
Chimney
If your home has a fireplace and a chimney, try cleaning it before it gets too cold. This way, you can make your own fires and heat your house as you like with firewood. Luckily, you only need this about once a year, just before winter.
These are the major things you need to service around your home before winter. If you ignore these steps, you’ll possibly suffer a lot more losses in home damage and have a cold winter as cold air leaks into your home.