Fall is officially here, which means winter is right around the corner. Now is the best possible time to get your home ready for the colder temperatures to keep winter from hiking up your utility bills once the first frost hits. To help you prepare your home for the chillier days, here are five ways to winterize your space.
Schedule your roof inspection
It’s recommended to hire a roofing contractor to conduct an inspection and residential roof repair at least twice a year, typically during the spring and fall months. While the hot sun of the summer season can certainly wreak havoc on your roof tiles, winter is a whole other ballgame. For instance, just six inches of wet snow is equal to the weight of about 38 inches of dry snow. You want to be sure your roof is up to the task of handling that weight without letting water seep in through any cracks. Ice dams are serious business and you want to keep them off your roof as much as possible throughout the season to keep your family safe. If there are serious damages on your roof, getting a residential roofing replacement may be more practical than conducting costly repairs.
Freshen up your insulation
Utility costs are typically higher during the winter months for several reasons. Days are shorter, which means you need to use more electricity to see during the day, and temperatures are low, which means you need to use gas for heating as well as water. When natural gas is transported through transmission lines, it passes through pressures up to 1,5000 pounds per square inch before reducing to under 0.25 psi by the time it reaches your house. Depending on how far away you live from your power company, your delivery charges could be even more expensive than the amount of gas you’re using. To help keep your utility bills down, go around your home and freshen up your insulation. This includes the insulation in your attic, which can suck out your home’s heating through miscellaneous cracks and drafts.
Have your heating checked
Just like your roof, any type of heating system you use will also need to be inspected. Chimneys, boilers, water heaters, and furnaces are recommended to be serviced at least once a year. This helps to ensure that any buildup in your heating system is cleared out. It also ensures that your system is running efficiently. When you’re able to catch smaller problems, you can prevent them from becoming major disasters that could cost you.
Your water heater will also need to be checked to make sure there are no issues with rust. Up to 100% of water tanks containing water for human consumption require protective linings and coatings. When these linings and coatings start to wear away, they increase the risk of rust. Maintenance helps keep rust at bay and keeps your water heater running for longer.
As we say goodbye to summer, it’s important to make sure our homes are primed and ready for the cooler seasons. By following the tips above and performing a little maintenance around your house, you can feel confident knowing your house is fit this fall and ready once winter arrives.
