Now Is The Time To Prep Your Home For Winter
The problem with Fall is that it never seems to last long enough. With winter already seemingly around the corner, and if you live in a part of the world where that means colder, windier, wetter weather, it is a really good idea to prep your home for the bleakest season of the year so that you can enjoy it in as much safety and comfort at possible.With that in mind, here are some of the best things you can do to get your home ready for winter this year:
Install insulation
If your home does not already have insulation installed everywhere, it could be a good idea to think about changing that. Insulation, especially in the roof as heat rises and can leach out of the roof very easily, can be a game-changer.
When your home is fully insulated, not only will you not need quite as many heating fuel deliveries from companies like Tri Gas & Oil (although you should make sure you’re stocked up and have enough to see you through the winter) but you will also be far more warm and cozy in your home no matter what the weather is like outside.
Insulate your pipes
On the subject of insulation, before winter sets in, it would be a really good idea to ensure that your pipes are insulated too. This will help to prevent them from bursting should the temperature drop and put them at risk of freezing over. It’s particularly important to insulate your pipes if you are going to be leaving town for a spell because should a pipe burst when you’re not there to notice, you could be in for a flooding disaster. However, even if you will be around, insulating your pipes will prevent you from potentially having to call a plumber out.
Install a carbon monoxide detector
If you don’t already have a carbon monoxide detector in your home, now is the perfect time to get one of those too. Why? Because in the winter, you are probably going to be spending more time lighting fires, turning on the heating system, cooking for the holidays, and so on. The more you use these appliances, the more at risk you are of a carbon monoxide leak, which could potentially make you and your family very sick. In fact, carbo monoxide leaks can be lethal, so don’t take the risk and get a carbon monoxide alarm installed as soon as possible.
Clean the gutters
Towards the end of the fall season, you should be making an effort to get outside a bd clean the gutters of any fallen leaves, branches, and other debris that are clogging them up. Your gutters are there for a good reason - to redirect rainfall so that it does not cause water damage or flooding - when they are clogged, they cannot do that and that puts your home at risk of damp, flood, and damage. If you don’t want to get up a ladder and clear the gutter yourself, get a professional to do it. Oh, and while you/they are up there, it may be worth inspecting the roof to check for any loose tiles too.
Clean the chimney
If you happen to have a traditional wood-burning fireplace, then you are going to want to ensure that the chimney is clean and clear to prevent any potential disasters from happening. It’s probably a good idea to pay a professional to do this because you will want to ensure that there are absolutely no blockages that could cause your fireplace to become dangerous.
Check the doors and windows
Unless your doors and windows are pretty new, there is a good chance that their seals and draft excluders may not be quite as tight as they used to be, if this is the case, then applying a new layer of weatherstripping is a good way of keeping the cold winter air out and keeping your energy bills as low as possible. The easiest way to determine whether additional weatherstripping is needed is to simply wait for a cool, ideally windy day and then go around the house to see if you can feel a breeze from any doors and windows. If you can, you can then make a quick repair, or get a handyman in to do it for you.
Invest in some winter-scented candles
Once you have the house in good shape for winter, it’s time to have some fun with it. Candles are perfect for winter because they warm the space as well as lighting it in the most pleasing of ways. Not only that, but these days, you can get a lot of beautiful winter-scented candles like cinnamon and orange or nutmeg, which will warm you up and tantalize your senses.
Switch out the oft furnishings
As the seasons change, you might also want to change your decor, particularly the soft furnishings. As it gets colder, hanging a heavier pair of curtains is a great way to keep more heat in your home and make the whole place seem a whole lot cozier. Switching out light blankets for thick afghans and summery cushions and pillows for faux fur versions will add to the coziness factor too. If you have wooden floors, putting a rug or two down on the floor is also a good idea as it helps to prevent freezing your feet when you step on the floors in the morning before the heating system has fully kicked in.
Make a wreath
Winter wreaths are a simple, beautiful way of dressing up the entrance to your home in the darkest season of the year, and you don’t have to wait until the holidays to hang one. There are numerous simple tutorials you can follow online to make your very own wreath and ensure that your home is one of the prettiest in the neighborhood this winter.
Winter can be a challenging month, especially if you are a homeowner, but if you start prepping the place in advance, you can sit back in front of the fire and really make the most of this coming winter with good friends and family by your side.
