11/11/2021
To help you get going on it, I thought I’d share a few ways to avoid costly impacts to your home sweet home.
1. Make sure your outdoor faucets and pipes are insulated. A $3 faucet cover from your nearest home improvement store is well worth the investment to prevent pipes from bursting—especially if you don’t have freeze-resistant spigots.
2. Grab a ladder (and a spotter!) and clean out your gutters to prevent snow and ice damage. Iffy on climbing a ladder? Now is a great time to gather a few quotes and consider gutter guards.
3. Check out your attic to ensure it’s well-insulated and ventilated. An easy way to know? Your attic should be about ten degrees warmer than the outside temp.
4. Feel around doors and windows for gaps and drafts that can quickly run up your heating bill. New weather stripping or a draft stopper can be an easy DIY solution.
5. Schedule a service check for your heating system. Service your furnace (and chimney, if applicable) to remove buildup and keep it running efficiently.
6. Have salt or other quick-melt products on hand to increase traction, accelerate melting, and prevent slips and falls.
7. Regularly monitor your home’s exterior during the winter—especially after a storm. Catching damage early will allow you to repair it before it worsens.
Hope this gives you a boost of inspiration in considering what your home needs and what you may need to do in the coming weeks. Stay safe and warm this winter, and, of course, feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
