Preparing Your Home for Winter

Preparing your home for winter means different things to different homeowners, depending on where you live. In general, though, getting your home ready for colder weather involves ensuring your home’s exterior is in prime condition to keep the rest of the house protected. It’s also important to consider how you can improve the energy efficiency of your home to make it as easy as possible to keep your home’s interior at a comfortable temperature throughout the winter.

Steps to Take for Your Home Before Winter

When considering harsher weather, you’ll want to make sure your home is ready for the temperature change. This means preparing both the interior and exterior of your home to be as energy efficient as possible. This may require making some minor repairs, considering more extensive renovations, or simply making a few small changes. Many of the steps for preparing your home for winter can be handled yourself depending on how handy you are, while others may require a handyman or professional home improvement company.
Here are some of the steps you should take to prepare your home for winter:
• Reverse your ceiling fans – This is a small and easy step that you can take to improve your home’s comfort. Many ceiling fans can be reversed to draw airflow up and redistribute heat throughout the home.
• Program your thermostat – If you have a programmable thermostat, changing the settings for the winter may help you save some money on your monthly energy bills.
• Add more insulation – Adding insulation to your home can help ensure you’re able to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the interior of the house. You may want to check your attic to ensure there’s adequate insulation or hire a professional for a more thorough assessment.
• Clear out the gutters – Having functional gutters is essential, especially in the wintertime. Any sitting water in the gutters may leave your home more prone to ice dams forming on the roof or frozen water causing leaks and cracks in the gutters once everything thaws out again. Clearing out your gutters so that rain can flow freely through them is a must when prepping your home for winter.
• Drain other sources of water – In addition to your gutters, you’ll want to pay attention to other water sources as well if you live in an area where temperatures reach below freezing. This includes emptying your garden hoses, draining your sprinkler systems, and turning off exterior faucets.
• Emptying old gas cans – Putting the lawnmower away for the season? Make sure to empty the fuel tank or any other gas tanks you have stored. Another option is to add stabilizer so that the gas remains usable once mowing season starts up again.
• Caulk the windows and doors – Your windows and doors are one of the most important areas to look at when it comes to your home’s energy efficiency. Older windows and doors are prone to cracks and gaps along the edges of the frame or trim, which may result in air infiltration. Caulking the edges of your windows and doors can create a new seal to better insulate your home.
At NewSouth Window Solutions, we’re here to help ensure your home is ready for winter. Our energy-efficient windows and doors can enhance the performance of your entire home so that you can enjoy a more comfortable and efficient environment throughout the chilly winter, scorching summer, and everything in between. Contact us today to learn more.