Winter home maintenance tasks

  • 1 year ago

With the cold weather here there are some tasks that you can take care of to help maintain your home. Here are a few important winter tasks to ensure your property is well-maintained.

Check the heating system 

Experts in home maintenance advise having your furnace inspected by a professional every year, especially before we have a significant snowfall. The majority of manufacturers and professionals advise having your furnace tuned up or inspected once a year.

Schedule a chimney cleaning 

The last thing you want on a chilly, winter night is for a chimney clog to cause your house to fill with smoke. Regular cleaning is necessary for a fireplace to operate correctly, whether there is a soot buildup or an old bird’s nest at the top. You can truly unwind with a cup of hot chocolate next to your fireplace if you plan ahead and schedule an inspection and cleaning.

Clean out your gutter 

Your gutters might be clogged with leaves and other debris if there are any trees close to your home. There is often a lot of debris that falls during a windstorm, even from trees that don’t lose their leaves every year. The simplest approach to remove leaves from your gutter is by using a tiny rake. If climbing a ladder to reach everything makes you uneasy, get a professional to clean your gutters.

Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Our windows and doors are always tightly shut in the winter to keep the cold air out, which means that fresh air flow is minimal. This indicates that dangerous gas buildup, such as carbon monoxide, is more likely to occur inside your home.

Find out if any heat is escaping your house

You’ll want to make sure that the money you spent to have your furnace inspected isn’t going to be wasted every time you raise the thermostat. Your homes’ heated air may be escaping due to defective weatherstripping around windows, gaps under doors, or inadequate insulation around pipes.

Stock up on emergency supplies

It’s crucial to be ready for an immediate crisis if you reside in a region that frequently experiences winter storms. Be sure to stock up on water, blankets, canned goods, and non-perishable foods. It’s also a good idea to check your flashlights for batteries and have candles on hand.

Maintain the trees on your property

Trees and plants can be under a lot of stress throughout the winter. Look for potential trouble places while strolling through your yard or property, such as rotten branches or trees that are leaning to one side. If there are any large trees close to your home or power lines that need to be pruned or removed because they might not survive the winter, think about hiring an arborist. Otherwise, you run the risk of a storm inflicting damage to your home or injuries from falling limbs or trees.

Clear snow and ice from your roof and trees

It’s essential to remove snow off your trees when it snows. Another safety risk is when tree branches become weighed down by wet snow and break off. Snow and ice can also harm the gutters and roof of your home.

Prevent pipes from freezing

Your pipes may rupture as a result of exposure to cold air, seriously water-damaging your house. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can do to prevent this. First, if you’re leaving town, leave your thermostat at 55 degrees and leave any cabinets with plumbing open so warm air can still circulate within. The second option is to try insulating your pipes by making a short trip to the hardware shop.

Reverse the ceiling fans

This is a simple task that is also free! By flipping the motor on any ceiling fans so they spin counterclockwise, you can assist your heating system and make a room feel warmer and more comfortable.

Also at Orca Realty, we offer an Auto Maintenance program that takes care of many services automatically to ensure your home is maintained. Contact us for more details!

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