Winter Home Maintenance
It’s time to start thinking about getting your house ready for those cold temps that are coming, even here in North Carolina! Having foresight about a few things before we head into winter helps you avoid those OH NOs come colder temps.
It’s all about being PROACTIVE!
How can you protect your investment & your family during the winter?
Tip #1: Plan your trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains which most likely gets your family some snow time in a breathtaking backdrop!
Before we start the short list, remember that there are several tips for fall maintenance of your home that I am sure you already did! Things like getting the HVAC and chimney inspected and cleaned. Draining your in-ground sprinklers and checking your water heater.
As the temperature starts to get colder, the first thing I always remember is to turn our ceiling fan blades the other direction. I’m always cold and it really helps when we turn our fireplace on to keep the heat up, but the HVAC down! Having someone check on your HVAC before heading into winter is also a great idea. I always maintain my HVAC in Spring & Fall, this helps take you from HOT to COLD and then again from COLD to HOT.
Double check your basement or crawl space for leaks or any water issues. Once that leak freezes and expands, it can cause major damage to your pipes or your foundation. Winterize your spigots. Make sure to run all the water out of any areas you are not going to use this winter. Freezing and bursting pipes is definitely worst case scenario! Prevention is key!
Now is a great time to vacuum all of the vents in your home to help create cleaner air inside, including your dryer vent. This is a time when we will all have our doors and windows shut for several months and the cleaner the air is in your home, the less chance you get of being sick! Don’t forget the bathroom exhaust fans too, this will help get good ventilation for drying out the room after that hot shower!
See the list we created below for a few more tips in helping keep your home up to date.
All of these are always worth the time spent doing them to have that peace of mind all winter.
Finally, if you are hanging or taking down outdoor and indoor decor/lights this time of year, take a look at these tips on staying safe!
Make sure you’ve got enough hot cocoa to stay warm this year!
~ Katie