Have you got your house ready for winter or are you still looking for the home winterization checklist? Well, winter is near, and it is time to take care of the condition of your house and prepare it for frosty and heavy rainfall. Not everyone is ready for pre-winter troubles, but in case of negligence, you can experience an unpleasant experience.
Burst water pipes, nasty black fungus on the walls, and moldy furniture are some drawbacks that decrease your home’s value. At this point, the transfer from your home can be a long process. Also, you can go through a lot of bad during the cold season. Yet, there is no need to worry.
Hire diligent experts who can provide special care and help you prepare your home for winter. Apart from that, you can check the given tips to make sure your home is ready for the cold weather.
9 Ways to Organize your Home for Winter
1. The Exterior of Your House
You should start with an outdoor inspection of your home. Walk along its perimeter to examine the facade for cracks. Check the roof for no broken roof elements. All these problems (if any) are best eliminated when it is warm from the outside.
On the other hand, repair work seems difficult in winter because the ice walks on the roof and makes it difficult for people to survive. Besides, the cold weather also makes it challenging to clean the drain, especially when gutters get clogged, and helps you experience flood/standing water on the roof. Similarly, clogged gutters can also result in the formation of ice dams and icicles.
To avoid the above issues, you must clean the exterior of your house in advance, but not too early because if you clean the gutter before the leaves fall, then such type of situation can happen again.
2. Clean Gutters and Chimneys
Trees have already shed their foliage – the main source of pollution and maybe come from gutters, so it is high time to clean them. If you do not do this on time, then leaves, small branches and dirt can accumulate in your gutters, and these things will freeze with the onset of the first cold weather. Not only this, but also the water drainage can create serious complications for your home and may damage your property.
3. Prepare Electrical Appliances
Disconnect all appliances from the mains and wipe with dry rags. Valuable equipment, such as your TV, tape recorders, and phones need to be protected against waterlogging and dust. If you are busy at your work and unable to take care of these factors, then wrap all the things with film, cloth, or paper and leave them in a cool or dry place. It is advisable to remove the batteries from the TV remote to avoid any leakage. Moreover, you can defrost and dry the refrigerator and always open its door slightly. By doing this, you can prevent your valuable items from mold.
4. Plumbing and Waterproofing
Do not forget to turn off the “summer water supply” and remove the hoses to a warm room. Water pipes must be insulated. In addition, you need to take care of the waterproofing of the basement. Alternatively, trench drainage around the perimeter of the house is suitable.
5. Damp Walls
Look at your house walls and ensure that they are free of dampness and patches after precipitation. If your wall contains moisture and gets wet, then you need to think about external wall insulation to protect the fabric of your home. This approach can also help you enhance the appearance of your home and ensure low disruption. However, you can also consider its alternatives, like internal insulation or warm plaster, especially if you discover holes or seams in masonry or throughout the process.
6. Heating Inspection
If the home has a stove or fireplace, you need to make a test furnace and check the chimney. You can also make sure about the traction that should be in its place, and there should be no cracks even if the flap is working. With this exception, you can call a professional chimney sweep to clear soot and ash from your chimney. After a few years, it is also critical to install a carbon monoxide detector and check radiators and gas boilers to prevent your home from heating issues and other problems during winter.
7. Organize a General Cleaning for All Rooms
Carry out general cleaning of the house before leaving. Wipe the dust, shake out the carpets, and wash the floors of all areas. Wash all textiles in the house, such as clothes, bed linen, and blankets. Dry all clothes well before putting them away in the closet. Cover the furniture with unnecessary fabric or film.
8. Creating Coziness at Home
Buy warm blankets for family members and guests. You can choose various candles for floors and candles that float in a vase or in cups. Furthermore, take care of the warm scents in the house. The smell of pine needles, cinnamon, and orange can create your mood and help everyone feel like a new year.
9. Hire a Professional.
If you don’t know what you need to do, hire a professional. While you may think you can do it YOURSELF, but you can’t. Hiring a professional is the best way to make sure you don’t miss a single important step when preparing your home for winter. Professional service can save you time and money and protect your home from any kind of damage that happens when you don’t prepare yourself for home improvement and winter. An annual maintenance agreement with a contractor can also become beneficial for you.
Final Thoughts
As you can see above, we have provided quite simple tips that are not difficult to adopt. So what are you waiting for? Hurry up and start preparing your home for winter today! Protection from moisture, heat preservation, and protection of various systems at your home should be your first priority to avoid many problems. Aside from this, you should think about your home maintenance as this practice can aid you in creating a truly cozy home for winter.
If you have ideas to prepare your house for winter or have something to share about home improvement? Share with us in the comments as we want to know what you consider for your home, what your opinion is, and what things need to be done before the beginning of winter. All the information matters to us, and indeed, your tips can give the best experience to our readers.