You might not be putting winterizing your home at the top of your priority list right now. After all, the majority of us would prefer not to spend precious free time performing home maintenance chores when we could be taking in the beautiful scenery, going out drinking, or enjoying seasoned delicacies. However, if you want your house to be completely ready for the winter weather, you can’t put off doing it.

If you don’t take the time to get your house ready before the winter chill sets in, the cold weather could actually cause significant damage to it. Do not worry if you do not know where to start, the following are some of the areas you should pay more attention to.

1. Clear the Gutters

It’s necessary to clean those gutters once most of the leaves have fallen from the trees. When your gutters overflow from a backup, the water pours down your house and accelerates the degradation of your façade. Additionally, it can cause your foundation to deteriorate, water to seep into your basement, and your concrete porches and walks to settle, all of which cause various issues.

Clearing your gutter will also give you the opportunity to know areas in your roof that require mending. This will save you from having you and your loved ones freezing during the winter.

2. Examine Your Drainage System

Verify that the ground around your foundation hasn’t changed, leaving spaces where water could collect. For any areas that have patches on them, fill them with soil to level the ground. Next, walk around and inspect your gutter downspouts. Verify that water is being transported away from the house. If necessary, add downspout enhancers. As the soil around the foundation freezes and thaws throughout the winter, saturated soil can cause serious issues and that is the last thing you want.

Get someone to take a look at your interior drainage system. If there are any leaks that need to be prepared. If your house has not been serviced for a while, you can enhance them with durable pex fittings. Pipes are delicate during winters and the last thing you want is a mishap with your home pipes when it’s freezing outside.

3. Seal the Hard Surfaces

Your deck also needs maintenance. Be sure to protect any concrete walks, patios, or driveways you have. All of your flat external concrete surfaces should every so often be sealed with a concrete sealant. Control joints are intentionally inserted into your concrete by good masons to try to limit cracking. Before applying a sealer, give your concrete a thorough inspection and fill in any cracks to prevent water from seeping in and freezing over the winter. This should guarantee the long-term durability of your costly concrete installation.

You may either purchase a bucket of sealer and roll it on yourself, or you can hire a firm to come over and give it a fast spray of sealer. If there are any cracks in your driveway, fill them in before sealing.

4. Inspect and Update the Heating and Conditioning System

Most heating and air conditioning systems endure 12 to 15 years on average. While some systems are still functioning well at 20 years, the majority are pretty much gone within 10. This is largely due to how they are maintained.

Take advantage of this opportunity to at the very least change your filters before it gets chilly. Consider hiring a reputable HVAC contractor to inspect the system. Even better, consider signing a yearly maintenance contract. Ask the contractor to inspect your system to ensure that your heat will function when you need it. Finding an HVAC issue in the warmer months is much preferable to discovering a broken furnace in the middle of a bitterly cold winter.

5. Clean Your Chimney and Get Firewood

Before you start building those cozy flames in an upcoming couple of months, get your fireplace cleaned and examined. A reputable chimney sweep firm can spot maintenance issues as well as ensure that the fireplace is secure to use.

You should also order that load of firewood at this time. Spend some time putting some wood in a nice spot in the yard to stack and cover. Verify that the old firewood you have isn’t decaying, and then take it far from your house.

The Bottom Line

Winter can be tough if you are not prepared. How you handle your preparation determines whether you are going to have a smooth winter or not. Take up the pointers above and ensure that your family is well set for winter. Good luck!