For new homeowners, winter time can be a challenging time to confront everything and learn what to do with your new home. There are certain things you’ll want to do to preserve your house and make sure that you can survive the winter with your house and structures in place.
Here are a few things that you’ll want to do to winterize your home for the first time and for all other winters:
- Clean your gutters. Before the winter hits, you’ll want to clean out your gutters. Otherwise, you’ll have a bunch of sticks and leaves stuck in your gutter that snow will pile on top of and will freeze in your gutters. Then your gutters will end up overflowing or being backed up through the winter when you’ll want it drain as things are defrosting and melting. You can also install gutter guards. And if you have an attic, you can insulate your attic floor to keep the top of your home a bit warmer so things easily defrost.
- Reinforce your pipes. The last thing you want to deal with in the winter is frozen pipes, which can crack and break and cause leaks in your home. You’ll want to protect the pipes in your home that could be susceptible to freezing and breaking. You can reinforce them by insulating them. Additionally, you can also keep a slight stream of water going through faucets that will protect them from freezing and bursting.
- Seal any cracks. If you have any cracks or openings in your floors, walls, or ceilings, you can caulk them so you can prevent cold air from seeping into your home. You can also put weatherproofing or seals around openings like doorframes, windows, and mail chutes to keep cold air from coming in. Not only will this help you stay warmer, but you’ll also save money on your utility bills by not having to pay as much for heat.
- Keep outdoor areas clear. Make sure you clear your sidewalks, walkways, and driveways of any snow or ice so you don’t risk slipping. You’ll especially want to be conscious of this on any outdoor stairways so you don’t risk slipping and falling down. Any you’ll also want to make sure your handrails are repaired and not slippery either.
- Keep your home warm and insulated. Commit to a temperature that you’ll want to keep your house at through the entire winter, like 65 degrees. If you keep your home warm and insulated, you’ll be sure to have a cozy winter.
