As the weather cools down, it’s important to start thinking about how to winterize your home to protect it and your family from disaster. Even little steps can make a huge difference, as minor damage due to ice or snow can mount up, leaving you with repair bills you weren’t expecting. Here are a couple ways to get your home ready for a typical North Carolina winter.
Do Some Yardwork
Of course, the outdoors will receive the brunt of the harsh winter weather, so much of your preparation will be outside. Clean your gutters of leaves and debris so that they do not cave in if there is snowfall. Similarly, trim the branches of trees in your yard to reduce the possibility that limbs can become heavy with ice and break off, possibly damaging your home. If you have taken some of our outdoor decor advice in the past, make sure you bring all of your outdoor furniture indoors as well.
Check for Structural Weaknesses
Next, examine your home in close detail for cracks or other damage. These can be filled with water, which then freezes in the winter cold and expands, making the crack bigger and, in some cases, making your home structurally unsound. Another area that can be affected is the fireplace. If you have a chimney that you do not plan to use over the winter, get a chimney balloon that will cover the opening to prevent snow, ice, and debris from building up in your fireplace.
Invest in Insulation
Heating your home without proper insulation is tantamount to blowing money out of your windows. Before you crank that heater, swap out screens on your windows for actual storm windows. These withstand harsher winter weather and help keep heat inside. Additionally, buy and install window insulation film for an inexpensive way to save money on heating. Don’t want to spend money? One simple way to help keep heat inside is to switch your ceiling fan from rotating counterclockwise to rotating clockwise. A clockwise rotation will push hot air back down to the floor, recycling the heat more effectively.
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Stay safe and warm this holiday season, and use these tips to avoid experiencing costly damage to your home from nasty weather. If you have any other good winterizing tips, leave them below in the comments! For other information about Cedar Ridge, contact our office.
