It’s hard to believe it, but winter is quickly approaching. A month ago, the weather was climbing well into the 80s, and it was tanning weather. Those days are past for the year, and winter is knocking at the door. Winter can be unpredictable, especially so in the northeast. Many people believe that this winter will be particularly nasty, so it is important to prepare for the worst inclement weather that may come your way.
Winterizing your home is an important step in preparing for the winter. While many of the steps or projects can be completed without professional help, it is always a good idea to have an expert’s opinion. This is a particularly good idea if your home took any damage over the course of the past year or went through any changes or remodels.
An expert will guide you through any steps that you should take to ensure that your home is equipped for the winter. Losch employees are experts in their field and can help you in this process.
If your home did not go through any changes or receive any damage, you should be able to complete many of the tasks on your own. There are a few jobs that you should focus on when winterizing your home.
Change Furnace Filters
This step is relatively self-explanatory. It is highly important that you change your furnace filter out before you start to use it again. Not only does an old filter not complete its job correctly, it can also be dangerous.
Ready Your Chimney
Getting your chimney ready follows the same sort of thinking as the previous item. Sweeping your chimney will ensure that it is ready for use once the weather turns. If you are unsure on how to do this, getting a professional is a good way to go. A clogged chimney can be disastrous.
Check Your Insulation
Before the snow and freezing weather hit, you’ll want to make sure that your insulation is in proper shape. Typically, there shouldn’t be a problem here. However, if you have an attic, you should pay careful attention to the insulation. Small critters sometimes get into attics, and can tear up the insulation.
Insulate Your Pipes
Not everyone will have to insulate their pipes. However, it is a good idea to insulate your pipes if you live in an area where the temperature consistently drops below freezing during the winter.
Fix the Cracks
It is also important to look for locations that may have slight cracks in them due to weathering (around a window frame, where a chimney meets a roof, etc.) and fix them with caulking.
Winters can get very cold in the northeast, but with proper planning, you can ride the coming weather out in warm comfort.
