Top 10 Winter Home Maintenance Tasks
Whether you like winter or not, it is something you need to prepare your home for. The cold temperatures and harsh weather can cause all sorts of problems for a home. Plus, you need to make sure your home is in good shape to keep it warm inside on those cold days. To help you get ready for winter, the following are a few tasks that should be on every winter home maintenance checklist.
A winter checklist for your home should include cleaning your gutters, getting your furnace ready, trimming tree branches, protecting your pipes, upgrading your thermostat, preparing to clear snow, inspecting for drafts, checking and cleaning your dryer vent, covering windows, and checking attic insulation.
You Winter Home Maintenance Checklist Should Include Cleaning Your Gutters
Your gutters need to be clear for any snowmelt or rain that will come during winter. With fall just ending, there is a good chance that a lot of leaves, sticks, and other types of debris have accumulated in your gutters and downspouts.
Cleaning your gutters can be an unpleasant job, but it is one of the top home maintenance tips for protecting against damage to the foundation. If you don’t want to climb a ladder to do the job by hand, you can do it from the ground with a tool like the 20V AIR Cordless Leaf Blower/ Sweeper and its compatible gutter cleaning kit.
Get Your Furnace Ready
Your heating system is going to need to work hard on the cold winter days, so a little furnace maintenance should be on your home winter checklist.
You definitely need to change or at least clean your furnace filters before it starts getting too cold, but you may also want to call in a professional to perform a full inspection. This can be a vital step in making sure all of the parts are in good shape and that your furnace is ready to keep your home warm no matter how cold it gets outside.
Add Trimming Tree Branches to the Winter Checklist for Your Home
If you have any dead tree branches or tree limbs that hang over your roof, you should trim them back at the start of winter. All it would take is one heavy storm for one of these branches to come crashing down on your roof, or, if they hang over the driveway, your car.
If you don’t have a chainsaw, you might need to contact some professionals to help you with this task. A tool like the 20V JawSaw Cordless Chainsaw can be perfect for removing tree limbs before winter. The inventive design makes it much safer and easier to cut tree limbs. You could also get the compatible extension pole to help you reach high branches from the ground.
Protect Your Pipes
If you haven’t already done something to protect pipes in unheated areas like a basement or crawlspace, then it should be on the winter checklist for your home. Freezing pipes are one of the most common causes of water damage, so you need to do what you can to keep your pipes warm. When it comes to pipes in unheated areas, you should consider measures like pipe insulation and heat tape.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
Turning your thermostat down just a few degrees when you are not home can save you money on your heating bills. Installing a programmable thermostat can make it easier to manage your home heating and cut your energy use.
If you want to take it to the next level, you could consider installing a smart thermostat. These thermostats learn about your heating preferences and behaviors to provide optimal heating and cooling while also saving you money. Energy Star certified smart thermostats have been independently tested to prove that they offer energy savings.
Getting Ready to Clear Snow is an Essential Home Maintenance Tip
One of the best home maintenance tips for winter is to get your snow clearing equipment ready before the first snow. You don’t want to have to dig this stuff out when you need it, so it is just better to have it ready.
Move your snow shovels to a place that is more accessible. If you have a snow blower, change the oil and give it a quick inspection to make sure it is ready. If you don’t have a snow blower, you could consider using a leaf blower to move snow. A good leaf blower can generate enough force to move most of the light snow, and that will take some of the work off your arms and back.
Alternatively, you could use your Aerocart to help you clear piles of snow. Simply fitting it with the wheelbarrow snow plow attachment will turn your tool into an easy-to-maneuver piece of equipment. Your plow will help you get something like your driveway or front walkway cleared in no time.
Inspect for Drafts
Checking for drafts is one of the most important items to have on your winter home checklist. It doesn’t take much of a gap near a window or door to allow a considerable amount of cold air in the home. Inspect all of the windows and doors in your home and replace caulk and weather stripping as needed.
Check and Clean Your Dryer Vent
Check your dryer vent to make sure the line is clear and the cover is in place. The cover can prevent pests from trying to nest in the dryer vent during the cold winter, and clearing the vent is an important part of protecting against fires. You could buy a long brush that is designed for this job, but you can clean your dryer vent with less effort if you have an electric leaf blower.
Make Winter Home Maintenance Easier by Covering Your Windows
Windows are responsible for about 25-30% of heat loss during the winter. If you want to keep your home warm and save money on your heating bills, you need to insulate your windows. If you have storm windows, put them in at the beginning of winter. If you don’t, covering the windows with plastic film should be on the winter checklist for your home.
Check Your Attic Insulation
The insulation in your attic plays an important role in keeping heat in the home. Before the winter cold arrives, go up to the attic to check the insulation. If there is not enough, your heater is going to have to work very hard to keep your home warm, so adding some insulation should be on your winter home checklist.
Complete the winter checklist for your home with a wide range of multi-purpose tools from Worx!
