With the temperatures dropping and winter upon us, your beautiful home is becoming more and more susceptible to the threats of winter and the costly damages/repairs that those threats bring. Therefore, it is important to act now to prevent wintry damages. Here are 6 great ways to protect your house and save money. Seal Air Leaks - Prevent your energy bills from skyrocketing by sealing leaks in your windows and doors to prevent hot air from escaping. Simple leaks can raise your energy bills by hundreds of dollars over the course of the winter. Secure Exterior Features - Exterior features like roof tiles, siding, shutters can all be damaged by high winds, ice, and moisture from winter storms. Missing roof tiles can result in leaks underneath the roof leading to thousands in repairs. Clean Your Gutters - Clogged gutters can result in ice dams. Ice dams originate from melted ice that collects in your gutters and refreezes overnight. The repeated process of this can force water under your roof and cost thousands in damages. Insulate Exposed Pipes - Pipes exposed to the cold temperatures are susceptible to freezing and bursting. To prevent something like this from happening, insulate them with pipe insulation. Trim Overhanging Tree Branches - If you have any large trees by your house, several things could potentially be in danger like your car, roof, and even you! With frozen branches and high winds, branches can easily break and land on your roof or car resulting in thousands in repairs.
Have Your HVAC System Serviced - To prolong the life of your HVAC system, it is smart to have your system twice a year before you turn on your heat and when you turn on your AC. You can have a service contract with an HVAC company for around $200-$300/year for them to service it twice a year. By doing this, you will guarantee you system is running as efficient as possible. It is important to prepare for a lot of the risks that winter brings by checking the listed concern areas above. After properly preparing your home, it is also imperative to keep a good eye on your home throughout the winter. If you do not pay attention, a lot of the problems that result from winter storms won't reveal themselves for several months and they won't be cheap to fix.
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