There’s no denying the fact that the cold winter weather can wreak havoc on your house. As a homeowner, it’s necessary for you to take certain precautions to help get your property ready to undergo the long winter season. By following the tips that we’re going to share below, your residence should make it through another winter unscathed.
Trim Your Branches
If you have trees surrounding your house, you want to stand back and take a look at their branches. Any branches that are hanging over your house or driveway should be trimmed back. Even if the branches are relatively healthy, the buildup of snow and ice can cause them to break. It’s best to simply cut them back so that you don’t have to worry about a branch coming crashing down on your home or car.
Inspect Your Roof
Before the snow and ice come, you want to crawl up on your roof and give it a good inspection. Look for any shingles that are missing or curled over. These should be replaced before the winter season comes. Additionally, you’ll want to take a look at the flashing around your vent pipes and your chimney. Make sure that it isn’t rusted through or missing.
Clean Your Gutters
While you’re up on the roof, it’s a good idea to go ahead and clean out those gutters. Any debris that gets stuck in your gutters can cause excess water to back up onto your roof. This can result in moisture damage to your roof, which can be very costly. Aside from ensuring that your gutters are clean, you want to make sure that all of your downspouts are empty and in a position where they’re going to direct water away from your house.
Get Your HVAC System Serviced
As soon as the weather turns cold, you’re going to be relying on your home heating system to keep your family warm. To ensure that your system is ready to undergo the winter season, it’s best to call in a professional to get the unit serviced. Technicians can help to identify any problems before the winter weather hits and ensure that your heating system is working at its most optimal.
Get Your Fuel Delivered
Another necessary preparation tip to ensure that your heating system will work this winter is to get fuel delivered. Regardless of whether you utilize propane or oil, you should get on the schedule so that it can be delivered before you need to use your heating system. You don’t want to wait until after the first cold spell as it’s likely that your fuel provider will be backlogged, and it will take longer to get fuel to your home.
Fix Cracked Caulking
One of the biggest reasons that your heating bill can be driven up in the wintertime is air leaks in your property. The most compromising places are going to be your windows and doors. Take a few moments and walk around each window and door in your house to take note of the condition of the caulking around it. If you notice that any of it is cracked or missing, it’s a good idea to put some additional caulking on it so that it will keep the air out when the cold weather comes.
Test Your Detectors
With your heating system being active for most of the winter, it’s a good idea to test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Each detector should have a test button on it that you can easily push. Make sure that you replace the batteries in any detectors that are showing that they’re low.
Drain Your Outside Hose
Now is the ideal time to go ahead and drain any excess water from your outdoor hose. You want to take the hose off of the faucet and put it away. It’s highly advisable to shut off the valve for the water going to your outdoor faucet and let any excess water out of the faucet. You never want water to be in your hoses during the wintertime as it can freeze and cause your pipes to burst.
Expert Heating Services
Travis Crawford Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing is here for all of your heating system needs in Charlotte, NC. We also offer quality cooling, plumbing, indoor air quality, ducting, and ductless mini-split services. Call us today to set up your next service appointment.
