Preparing your house for the colder and snowy season might not be your topmost priority. After all, no one would like to go through the home maintenance tasks when they could be enjoying the snowfall, going apple picking, or sitting near the fireplace instead of preparing their living spaces for winters.
But this can cost you later. Keep in mind that ice, cold weather, and snow can harm your home.
To avoid any unnecessary residential bathroom cleaning & repair costs this winter, make sure to follow the simple steps given below to winterize your home.
Protect Your Pipes:
The extremely cold winter can take a toll on your water pipes. The water inside the pipe expands as it freezes, leading to the cracking and bursting of the pipeline. Here are a few simple steps to avoid getting your pipes damaged due to the cold weather.
- Let the water drip from faucets as it helps prevent the pipeline from freezing. Use foam insulators or heat tapes to protect the water pipes running through the cold areas like the attic, garage, and basement.
- Keep cabinet doors open so that the heat from the rest of the room can keep the pipes as warm as possible.
- Keep the thermostat at the same temperature both during the day and at night. Although it may add up to your utility bill, the repair job for burst pipes would be more costly.
Seal the Gaps Around Windows and Doors:
The crack or gaps around windows and doors can affect the warmth of your home. So caulk them and installed weather stripping as required. This simple thing can help you save on heating expenses.
Get Your HVAC System Inspected:
You can’t afford to survive extreme winter with a faulty HVAC system. So get it inspected from time to time to ensure the proper warmth and comfort inside the home. An HVAC maintenance plan generally includes…
- Cleaning of the air vents
- Cleaning or replacing of air filters
- Adding insulation
- Inspecting Thermostat
- Covering of outdoor AC unit
Prevent Ice Dams:
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that occurs at the edge of a roof, and blocks melting snow from draining off the roof. This is why it might go through a leak in your roof, causing water damages.
Therefore, install snow and ice slides to prevent the buildup of ice and snow.
Besides, get a rubberized ice and water shield installed beneath the roof shingles. See if a roofer can install a heat cable along the eaves to melt snow.
Clean the Gutters:
While keeping your gutters cleaned is essential in every season, the time before winter might be the most crucial time. If you live in a snowy area, your home will have to carry that additional weight of snow. If your gutters carry excessive weight on them, they could stop working.
Therefore, it is important to clean your gutters to minimize the problem. Otherwise, your home could face water damage due to clogged gutters.
Make sure to have an efficient releasing point when the snow melts so that it can go away from your house.
Clean the Back Parts of the Fridge:
Make sure to pull your fridge away from the wall at least once a year. It is also important to clean the refrigerator coils.
Dirty coils hamper energy efficiency and can raise your energy costs to $10 a month. While this might be a little amount, it adds up. Top of that, dirty coils could lead to damage and minimize the overall lifespan of the fridge. Make sure to unplug your refrigerator before carrying out any maintenance.
Give Your Kitchen Deep Clean:
While you are preparing your house for winter cleaning, it is also a time to clean drawers and cabinets in the kitchen. Remove any expired foods or damages. Clean backsplashes and hood vents. As you are less likely to open windows in winter, so cleaning these things could help minimize cooking odors.
Steam Couches and Carpets:
Treating your carpets regularly with a vacuum cleaner can remove the visible dirt buildup, but this might not always remove it.
Therefore, use a steam cleaner to make your carpets, chair cushions, and couches look refreshed. For older carpets that require intensive cleaning because of odors or stains, consider calling a cleaning professional.
Clean Windows:
Smudged windows block light and make your interiors look gloomier during the months you might already be going through the winter blues.
Therefore, keep your windows clean from both insides and outsides to let in more light and brighten up your living spaces.
Also, make sure to clean curtains and valences, which can be accumulated with the amount of dust and allergens.
Window treatments are made of expensive and delicate materials, so you can consider a professional if you are not sure about cleaning them properly.
Clean the Chimney:
Cleaning your chimney is the simplest way to minimize the risk of fire hazards, and make sure the air in your home remains smoke-free and healthy.
While it is best to choose a professional to get your chimney cleaned, you can do it with the right tools. Make sure to cover the surfaces in the room with a drop cloth before you get started, as the loosened dust and debris during cleaning can get on textiles and the pieces of furniture as well.
Check the Roof:
You can’t afford to have a leaky roof after the first snow gets on it. If you are not able to inspect your roof for cracks and missing shingles, get it done by a roof professional.
Any roofer you hire can do any minor repairs on the same day. It might cost you more than your reserved budget for it, but neglecting it for an entire winter could maximize the repair bills in the long run.
Summer rainstorms can take a toll on a roof, so it is downright essential to repair the flaws before your roof goes through its toughest test: heavy snowfall.
Reverse the Ceiling Fans:
We have been taught in high schools that warm air goes upward. If your fan comes with a reverse switch option, use it to run the fan’s blade in a clockwise direction as soon as you turn on the heat.
Reversing your ceiling fans’ directions can create an updraft, which in turn will throw any heated air hit against your ceiling. The constant circulation of warm air will keep your room warm, minimizing the energy costs.
Take Care of Your Bathroom:
Preparing your bathroom for winter is an important part of ensuring your bathroom functions efficiently during those colder months. And here are some residential bathroom cleaning tips for the same:
- Upgrade your bathroom with an efficient ventilation system to reduce the growth of mold and mildew.
- Check your bathroom for faulty pipes, shower, and faucets.
- Clean your bathroom twice as often. This is because the buildup of moisture in your bathroom can increase the growth of mold and mildew. Therefore, clean and bleach your bathroom surfaces twice.
LAST NOTE:
Preparing your home for winter is not challenging, but it requires a little bit of consideration. However, if you follow the abovementioned steps, you can make sure that your home is ready for that nasty cold and snow.
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