Winter weather can be extremely dangerous to you and your family. However, you can help to keep your family safe and comfortable this winter by taking steps now to prepare your home for the onslaught of bone-chilling cold, snow, ice, and negative wind chills that could soon be headed your way. The time to prepare for cold seasonal weather is well before it hits.
Here are some tips to help you effectively winterize your home.
1. Have a Generator Installed
A winter storm can knock out your power for days at a time. Needless to say, this can be decidedly inconvenient. A gas-powered generator can allow you to resume power as necessary. However, an improperly installed generator can put your family in danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. Professional generator installation Naperville IL can reduce this risk.
2. Check the Heater
Your furnace can break down without warning, making both your home and your family vulnerable to the effects of cold temperatures outside. You can call in a professional to perform a check on your heater and identify any problems. Then you can have these repaired before the furnace is needed.
3. Clean the Gutters
Gutters clogged with leaves and other debris can form ice dams once the temperature dips below freezing. Ice dams can cause water to back up in the gutters and seep under the roof, where it can cause problems such as ceiling leaks and mold growth. You can prevent this by cleaning the gutters twice a year: once in the fall and once in the spring.
4. Block Off Drafts
Heating costs can do a number on your budget during the winter. You can make your home more energy-efficient by sealing cracks around windows and doorframes with caulk. You may also need to add weather-stripping, and the storm windows may need replacement as well if they are old and/or ineffective. It goes without saying that any windows which are broken or cracked should be replaced as well.
5. Consult an Arborist
If you have trees on your property, call an arborist to check them out for damage. This is especially important if you have experienced strong storms during the summer months. Work pre-emptively to avoid a winter tree catastrophe.
6. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
This may help your energy efficiency by pushing down heated air from the ceiling down into the room.
Don’t let cold weather take you by surprise. Take advantage of the opportunity now to prepare your home for whatever winter may throw at it.