Is your home ready for winter? By the end of fall, your property should be prepared to hold heat, sustain snow and manage ice. Leaks and cracks that lead to cold air entering your home is the last thing you want to have happen. Such signs show that your home is less efficient, which drives up heating and energy costs, and indicate the need for repairs come springtime.
So, to essentially “winterize” your Connecticut home, make sure the following projects are complete before early December:
Exterior Painting
Professionals understand that you can only paint in certain seasons and weather conditions – cold, icy weather isn’t one of the optimal times. As a result, it’s imperative that any exterior paint jobs get done before winter. Otherwise, you’ll need to wait until spring to address the issue.
To start, decide if your property can last another few more months. To do so, check all outside walls for blistering, bubbles and cracking. If any of these signs are visible, work should be completed before temperatures drop below freezing. Make an appointment with a professional or use your own skills!
Clean Out Your Gutters
We’ll admit that no one likes doing this chore, but neglecting to clean leaves and debris from the inside of gutters is a sure-fire way for ice dams to form in the winter. So, as a precautionary measure at least twice per year, clean any buildup from the gutters and downspouts, then flush them with water to ensure proper draining.
Caulk Any Cracks
Cracks have the potential to form around your windows and doors, where the masonry meets the siding, and by piping. When these flaws appear, two things happen: Heat escapes, which drives up your energy bills, and water can enter, which may lead to mold and mildew buildup or ice damage if it freezes.
As another preventative measure, check around your home’s exterior in these key areas for any cracks. Then, use a caulk gun to seal them shut.
Inspect the Roof
Like painting, roofing is another project that is best done seasonally. However, if a damaged roof is not addressed right away, loose or missing shingles can lead to leaks and water damage in the winter. When these issues go unaddressed, your home seriously suffers. Insulation, wood and drywall may deteriorate, which then exposes electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.
Seal the Driveway
When water freezes into an existing crack, the ice expands and exacerbates the fissure. To prevent this scenario, make sure your driveway’s surface is sealed completely before the first snowfall.
Clean Up the Porch and Garage
When snow accumulates on your grill and patio furniture, the moisture can damage the finish, attract mildew or mold, and can cause cracks to form. As a result, it’s recommended that you bring these items into the garage. If they’re too large for the space, invest in a cover well before the first snow storm.
Additionally, if you’ve kept a lawn mower outdoors all summer, it should also be brought indoors. But, instead of sticking the mower in a corner to forget about until spring, winterize it by cleaning it out and changing the oil.
Along with these projects, make sure your garage itself is ready for winter. To keep cold air out, add weather stripping to the base and any doors leading to the interior. While this also cuts down on heating bills, it keeps the cold away from anything getting stored inside for the season.
Have Your HVAC System Serviced
As the final step before temperatures drop, have your HVAC system professionally serviced. Cleaning and tuning up your heat source will keep it more efficient throughout the season. With your air conditioning unit, remove any debris from spring, summer and fall so it functions correctly once the weather warms up.
Are you currently in the process of looking at homes in Central Connecticut? Redirect your search to ByCarrier, offering energy-efficient properties in several types of communities. To learn more, give us a call today.