As we know, winter days are colder and everyone likes to spend those days in the home. Additional energy is required to keep the homes in warm condition. Most of the families experience financial strain in winter season especially in the backdrop of economic recession and job cuts. But a little careful plan will reduce the cost and provide better facilities to face the colder and deadly winter season.
It is the better time in the year to perform maintenance in your home. You have to make sure that the heating system is working properly, because it is one of the most important things needed in the winter season. Both the interiors and exteriors of the house have to be inspected thoroughly to avoid risks.
Better home inspection
Home inspection before winter will ensure your safety. Better home inspection to prepare your house for winter has to include the inspections of furnace, exteriors, doors, windows, roof, gutters and foundations. You can do it by yourself or hire the service of professionals who are offering home inspection service.
It is always better to do the home inspection by yourself. Thus you can reduce the cost in this economic recession period. There are certain things you have keep in mind before doing home inspection. Some of them are given below.
Examining the exteriors
Here are ways how to do it properly:
- Check whether there is any crack or uncovered entry point around the wall inside or outside.
- Closely examine the windows and doors and check for leakage
- Check flashing
- Check out the roofs and gutters to clear the debris
- Basement of the house has to be checked thoroughly.
- Examine the roof for missing shingles or for damaged one.
- Inspect the gutters to see whether it is blocked by leaves or debris
- Examine the sides of the walls for leaky sports
Once you found out there is crack or uncover entry point, you have to seal those places. Replace the older and cracked glass, windows and doors with modern insulated glasses to protect you from the bitter cold. Basement of the house can be covered by plastic shields. If you found any worn roof shingles, remove those roof shingles and replace them with the newer ones. Remove the debris from the gutters and roofs and install new leaf guard for gutters.
Examining the interiors
- Inspect the furnace and fireplace
- Check the chimney to see whether it is adequately ventilated
- Replace or check out the thermal water heater, because it is an important device needed in the cold season.
- Check out the crawlspaces and attic to see whether they are adequately insulated.
- Inspect whether there is any leaky spot inside the house.
You can get the help of HVAC professional to see whether your furnace system is working properly or not. They will inspect and make it usable. It is better to keep the flammable materials away from furnace area. Keep the firewood for the chimney in dry place outside. It is advisable to buy a thermal blanket for the water heater in order to maintain the same heat in the water.
It is always good to add insulation to crawlspaces and attic. In order to protect you and your family from the toxic gases of furnace, install the new or working monoxide detector. If your fire alarms and fire extinguishers are not working properly, it is the best time to replace that. Installation of new storm windows will guard you from the bad effects of cold.
Inspecting the lawns, foundation and outdoors
- Check out the outdoor water faucets
- Examine the driveways and pathways of water
- Clean and cover the lawn chairs
- Check out the foundation to remove the debris and plants from it
- Check out the plumbing paths and sewage tanks to see whether there is any leaky spot
It is better to trim trees if its branches are very close to the electrical wires. If you saw any debris or vegetation in the foundation area, remove it and seal the cracked places. Repair and replace if there is any problem in the plumbing line. Seal and lock the cable outlets and mail chutes to prevent cold air entering into the walls. You have to move your potted plants closer to your home or inside. Thus, these too will get warm. You can protect your roses in the garden by a burlap screen. Closing of pool is a wise action, because the fall of leaves will create algae bloom.
Preparation to protect from fire during winter season
- Keep the fire extinguishers for furnace and chimney. Different types of fire extinguishers are available in the market. Buy the better and effective one. This will help you to protect from accidental fires from the chimney or caused by the close electric circuit during the winter season.
- Buy or replace the smoke detectors. Keep it beside the furnace room. If you are keeping an old one, it is better to buy a new and effective one. Sometimes the older ones will not work properly.
- Install a spark arrestor in your chimney in order to adjust the spark from reaching outside.
- Keep a fireplace screen for hot embers
Protection from flood during the winter season
- Install weather stripping around the doors and windows and this will guard your home from rain and cold.
- Replace your doors and windows with hurricane rated storm doors and windows. If you are having storm windows and doors, then no need to buy the newer ones.
- Better keep the sandbags in case you are living in a flood prone area and you can protect your home using these.
- You can install a door sweeper and that will filter winter cold air.
- Electrical outlet sealers are available in the market. You can install these to protect your interior walls from the weather change.
- If you found any crack or hole around the home or inside the home, you can fill it with spray foam.
- Through proper weather stripping, you can protect your home from the extreme cold.
Staying away from home
Sometimes you may plan to stay away from your home in this winter season. You have to do certain things in that scenario too. Most important thing is to make a better winter season plan to avoid larger electricity and water bills. Some key things are mentioned below to avoid risk while you are residing away from your home in this winter season.
- Turn off the water heater
- Unplug the electrical appliances such as television, microwave, computers, electric iron and others.
- Keep the lights off if you are away from home for a longer period, otherwise put on the light to keep the rooms warm
- Better to put a low heat thermostat.
General instructions to protect yourself from winter
- Check your heating system with a licensed professional and this inspection will bring out if there is any problem.
- Use newer batteries in smoke detectors and make it work proper.
- Keep as many stocks of salt and sand before the beginning of winter season.
- Replace the furnace filters. Thus you will get fresh and filtered heat.
- As nights are longer than days, make sure each room has single light source.
- Better to install newer pipes to prevent freezing.
- Collect and store as much firewood as possible to protect yourself from the extreme cold.
- Water in you pool has to be drained before the start of winter.
- Keep candles and match boxes in case power failure happens.
- Better to buy an additional battery for the computer during the winter season.
Other important guidelines
- Always keep an emergency kit that includes candles, food items, extra bottles of water and first aid box.
- Keep the container plants inside.
- Weeds can be removed from the garden. Thus you can prepare the soil for planting newer plants after the winter.
- Cover your air conditioners from cold. Otherwise it will be damaged by snow fall.
- Protect your patio furniture from winter by water proof covers or take it back to the indoor.
- Keep your kid’s toys inside and don’t spread it outside. Else, you can store it in the outdoor shed of your home.
- Examine your walkways and if there is any crack, seal it. Otherwise it will become bigger ones.
It is important to do the maintenance of the house before winter so you can enjoy this cold season with safety and security measures. Flooding is common in the winter season. Proper home inspection and instructions will help you to identify the damages in your home and repair it with less expensive methods if it is done before the beginning of winter. With proper planning and advice you can save money as well as enjoy this winter with ease and joy.
