Winter is a time for hibernation, but it also means preparing your home for the chilly months ahead. In this blog post, we will go over some simple ways to prepare your home for winter and some of our services that can help you do so!
Things to do to Prepare Your Home for Winter
Taking the time to prepare your home for winter and perform basic home maintenance, you are reducing the amount of damage your home could sustain during the harsh winter weather.
Cut Back Bushes and Branches
When the leaves start to fall, it is time to prune back bushes and branches. By doing this you are preventing potential damage that may happen during storms or heavy winds that could causes branches to break off and hit your roof or siding.
It is also important for you to remember that snow can be extremely heavy and branches are like to break under the weight. Because of this you will want to cut any branches that overhang your home.
Drain Fuel from Your Small-Gas Engines
Taking the time to drain fuel from your small-gas engines such as chain saws, generators and lawn mowers is important for a multitude of reasons. Fuel left in these machines can expand during colder temperatures causing damage to vital parts which could lead to expensive repairs. Also, if you are storing equipment over an extended period of time it will need to be drained of all fluids.
Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
One thing that most people don’t think about when it comes to preparing your home for winter is to set the ceiling fans in your home to spin counterclockwise. By doing this it will push any rising warm air back down into the room instead of having it escape through the roof or windows. This can help save on heating costs during winter months!
To reverse the direction of your ceiling fan, first make sure the fan is off, then locate and click the switch located above the blades. If you have a remote fan there should be an option to reverse the direction on the remote itself.
Recaulk Your Doors and Windows
One of the quickest, easiest and cheapest things you can do to prepare your home for winter is to recaulk any cracks or openings in doors and windows. By doing this it will help keep cold air from seeping into your home through these areas where there are gaps. This small step alone could save you hundreds on heating costs during the winter months!
Get a Chimney Inspection
If you have a fireplace it is important to get your chimney cleaned and inspected before each burning season. This is important to do even if you don’t burn wood and have the fireplace purely for aesthetics.
When wood is burned it deposits a substance called creosote that builds up on the inside of your chimney. Creosote is not only highly flammable substance but is also cancerous. When enough of this substance builds up inside of your chimney the smoke from the fire can cause it to ignite and cause a chimney fire.
Having your chimney inspected and swept before winter sets in is a extremely important when you begin to prepare your home for winter. When you have an inspection performed, any potential damage can be found and repaired quickly which will prevent dangerous situations from occurring.
Look at Your Insurance Policy
It is a important to check your homeowners insurance policy as you prepare your home for winter. By doing this you will know what type of damage is covered and which damages are not in the event that something happens during a storm or heavy snowfall.
Check Your HVAC System
When the weather gets colder you will be switching from AC to heat which is why it is important to check your HVAC system before the winter months set in. This includes checking that all vents are clear of any debris and spraying foam insulation around ducts is a great way to make sure no cold air escapes during the colder parts of the year!
You should also take the time to change the batteries on your carbon monoxide detectors and perform a test if you are able too. Carbon monoxide is a gas that is odorless and colorless and is extremely dangerous. This is something that is extremely important to do as you prepare your home for winter because carbon monoxide poisoning peaks during the winter months.
Get Your Roof Inspected
Getting your roof inspected is also something important to do as you prepare your home for winter and our team at Shane’s can help you! We can inspect it from top to bottom and let you know if there are any problems that need to be addressed. We can also clean your roof with our pressure washing services to help prevent and rid your shingles of any mold, mildew and other debris.
Clean Your Gutters
Another important thing to do as you prepare your home for winter is to clean your gutters. This will help ensure that water does not back up and freeze along the eaves of your house, which can cause a lot of damage!
Our team at Shane’s can help you with this by using our high-pressure gutter cleaning service to clean out all the leaves, twigs and other debris that has collected in your gutters throughout the year!
Prepare Your Home for Winter with Shane's Pristine Powerwash
Our team at Shane’s Pristine Powerwash is the only team that conducts power washing services throughout the winter season. We do this to help make your home look its very best for the winter months. And you can’t go wrong with power washing services. By using a combination of high-pressure water and an environmentally friendly soap, we are able to safely remove dirt, mildew and other debris from the roof, gutters, and the entire exterior of your home.
Contact our team today for more information about how we can help you prepare your home for winter this holiday season!
