Preparing Your Home for Winter

It’s December and 2020 is almost over! The weather has actually stayed pretty nice considering this is Southern Missouri but by now, snow is a real possibility! Did you know that prepping your home for winter weather can be very important? We’ve connected with the local business, Beadles Property Maintenance, to bring you important information about prepping YOUR HOME for winter!

Clean Out Gutters

It’s important to consistently check your gutters all year long but even more so, in the winter! The weight of ice, snow, water, leaves and debri, can not only clog your gutters, but can cause serious issues. The weight of everything can cause the gutter to fall off, damaging the gutters, soffits and fascia and anything it might fall on. Water can spill over and drain into places that they aren’t meant to. Water can even puddle and creep up into your roof shingles, freeze and cause damage that could lead to roof leaks. 

Check Windows and Doors for Drafts

Windows and doors can have weather stripping that is wearing away or missing. Be sure to walk around to each of your windows and doors to feel if cold air is coming through. Having proper weather stripping and airtight barriers will keep your utility bills lower because heat isn’t escaping or letting cold air in. Some windows might even need you to install barriers over them. A barrier is a thin sheet that is similar to shrink wrap around your window (to make it airtight). It is completely see through and you may not even notice it’s there. 

Close Crawlspace Vents

If your home has a crawl space, it can get really cold underneath your home. Closing your crawl space vents in the winter can keep it much warmer below your house. This can not only help with heating efficiency but it can keep your pipes from freezing and bursting. 

Replace HVAC filters 

Filters may not seem like they are doing much inside of your HVAC unit but they help with the efficiency of air flow and with dust and other allergens. The dirtier an air filter is, the harder it is for the air to flow through it. If it’s dirty, you are also breathing in more dust and things that trigger your allergies. Changing your filters often is very beneficial and takes minimal effort. 

Check Bird/Rodent Screens in Attic

Not every home has a Bird or Rodent screen to cover vents. If you do, these need to be checked once in a while for animal damage. Much like humans, animals want to stay warm. In any weather situation, they will do their best to chew through and pry their way into your attic screens for shelter. Making sure there are no holes or loose edges, helps keep your house animal free (other than Fido, of course). 

Inspect Ductwork to Ensure it is Clean

Dust and dirt is always in the air but the more you can eliminate it from your heat and air conditioning, the better you’ll feel and the less you’ll pay. Particles and moisture can accumulate in your air ducts and they may need cleaning every so often. For this you would need to hire a professional with a special kind of vacuum to clean all the way through the ducts. 

Change batteries in smoke detectors

Did you know that during winter months, structure fires actually increase due to the increased use of heating equipment (information comes from FEMA.gov)? We all need warmth during the colder months, so safety should be at the top of our list. Checking fire and carbon monoxide detector batteries is very important year round. It’s an especially important practice in the winter months too. 

There are many other things that we could add to this list such as fireplace safety and more, but these practices can keep you safe and save you time, money, and frustration in the end. Beadles Property Maintenance actually offers all of these services! They can come and help you take care of everything listed here and they have graciously offered to give you a DISCOUNT, simply by mentioning this blog when you call! We love working with Beadles and YOU WILL TOO! 

Follow the link or give them a call with any of your home maintenance needs.

https://beadlespm.com or (417) 425-7006