Prepare for the Upcoming Cold Season with our checklist of Winter Basics
One of the most beneficial home maintenance tasks this month is just double-checking that your home is weatherproofed and ready for what Mother Nature has in store for us.
It’s clear that fall is here and while there are still a few sunny days, the rain is settling into the area. With the changing of the seasons, here are a few suggestions to ensure you and your home make the transition well.
Check for groundwater seepage in and around your home
Cracks in the foundation or concrete can offer easy entrance to water. Seal any cracks. Whether you’ve found a crack in your caulk, door or window seals, or foundation, now is the time to address it. Fall and winter are prime for bugs, wind, and water to try and infiltrate. Save yourself time, money, and a headache by heading off any potential issues.
Do you worry about frozen pipes with the impending cold snap?
If so, get those pipes insulated and ensure that you’re proactively addressing any needs before this winter, such as leaving a slow drip in a faucet to keep water moving through on the coldest of days.
Check your insulation
This is the perfect time to ensure that you have enough insulation to keep your house warm and dry before the frigid temps hit. How do you do that? Do the touch test. The interior ceilings, walls, and floors in your home should feel warm and dry. When drywall and paneling inside a home feels damp or cold, there is not enough insulation. Alternatively, when touching an exterior wall, it should feel cold because the insulation is keeping warm air inside a home.
Stock up on salt or kitty litter to improve the walkability of your sidewalks and front steps
Read more about our snow and ice removal services
Check your filters
Before the temperatures drop more, ensure your filter has been replaced so that you’re not pushing dust and dirt around the house. Your heater is likely running almost constantly, so the filter could be full of dust and dirt. If you notice that the filter needs changing, there’s no time like the present.
Clean those gutters
It’s that time of year where dirt and falling leaves (combined with rain) can become an impediment for moving water swiftly away from your house. Don’t let full gutters create an issue at your home. Give them a good cleaning now and then check again in early November to be sure everything is draining properly.
Keep back-up batteries and functioning flashlights in case they’re needed
Check for unwanted guests
We’re not talking about your cousin Bobby. Rather, we’re suggesting you take a trip into the attic or basement to see if you have any unwanted wasp nests or mice setting up shop at in your home.
Need a few or all of these projects taken care of? Give us a call at 907-336-7434. We are licensed, bonded, and insured.
If you have a remodel on your mind, start talking to your favorite remodeler: Be Happy Property Services, of course.
Be Happy Property Services does it all – remodeling and handyman repairs are our specialty. Now is the time to start the conversation and get a free estimate by our knowledgeable staff on how to make your vision a reality! Read this as you get started on that remodel.
