Preparing Your Home For The Cold And Snow

It has been a rather light winter thus far in south central Pennsylvania. However, that may soon change. We are expected to get our first snow fall of the year next week. Whether you think this is good or bad, it’s coming! As a homeowner, there are a few things you can do to ensure your home is safe and protected through the cold and snow that’s on the way. Here are a few tips that can make a huge difference once winter’s freeze hits.

Preparing Pipes

Get familiar with where the pipelines in your home are located and make sure you give them a good inspection. Patch any small leaks with heat tape to help reduce weaknesses that may cause the pipe to burst in the cold weather. You also might want to look into having your pipes insulated with foam or rubber pipe wraps. If you find yourself dealing with a large leak or pipeline problem, you may want to contact the professionals.

Check For Air Leaks

During the winter, you want to keep your home as warm as possible and as cheap as possible. Things like damaged weather stripping and small cracks in your home’s structure allow warm air to escape causing your heater to work much harder to keep your place warm. You should inspect your homes windows, doorways, and any other places where air might be able to enter or exit. You can use caulking for things such as a crack in your doorway and weather stripping to insulate things like windows and doors.

Clean Gutters

Excess debris can lead to clogs and ice dams in wintry conditions, which can prevent gutters from draining properly. If this happens, there’s a chance water could seep into your home since it has nowhere else to escape to, causing multiple issues such as damage to your valuables, mold growth, and even structural rot. Be sure to clear your gutters before the cold winter days set in and check for any leaks or misalignment’s that could damage your home.

Heating System Checked

It’s wise to have a licensed contractor come out to inspect your heater at least once a year, especially before the weather gets too severe.

Roof Inspected

For safety purposes, you should have a roof inspection done by a professional. The cost of the inspection is minimal when compared to the cost of needing it repaired due to lack of preparation. Reinforcing your roof now can help you avoid many hazards such as air and water leaks, water damage, mold and more.

Homeowners Insurance

Not many people know this but, your homeowners policy could come to the rescue for a whole host of cold-weather mishaps. Whether a hailstorm damages your roof, or the weight of snow and ice results in structural damage to your home, homeowners insurance could help pay to repair or replace your losses.

If you find yourself needing help with anything such as insulating pipes, roof inspection, gutter cleaning, etc… consider giving the professionals at ASJ a call. If you are interested in a free proposal, simply click one of our Get A Quote buttons located throughout our page or give us a call!