Helpful Tips for Winterizing Your Home

The summer has folded its wings and you’ve got to buckle down and prepare for the coming winter. This isn’t much of an issue if you live on the West Coast; but even in that region, gray days are ahead, and you want to make sure your plumbing, heating system and any other necessary repairs are taken care off.

The first thing you want to do is make sure that your heating system has undergone regular maintenance. If it hasn’t, now is the time to start looking for reputable HVAC Contractors in your area; they can take a look at your air conditioning unit, furnace and more. Keep their number handy for emergency services, too, when they’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – even on holidays.

Check The Status Of Your Roof

Whether the rain or the snow hits (or both, for that matter), you’ll want your roof to be in tip-top shape this season. Hire a handyman if there’s no one in the house who can safely climb a ladder to inspect the shingles. This past summer has been a hectic one with hurricanes and strong winds in some parts of the country, so you want to make sure damaged or broken sections of the roof are fixed just in case inclement weather hits your region.

For flat roofs, all it might take is a rake to get rid of pine needles and fallen leaves, so the water they retain doesn’t cause mold to build up. In fact; mold can be a problem in spaces inside the home you rarely see – behind the vanity in the bathroom. If there’s water damage in your home, RestorationElite is a trusted provider of emergency services, mold remediation and water/fire damage repair; they’re located in multiple places around the nation.

Property Cleaning And Leaf Work

Clean your gutters of leaves and debris. While you’re up there (or the professional handyman you hired is) have some water downspouts placed to allow any run-off from the rain to cleanly pour down them and into the street gutters.

For your front and back yards specifically, mulch the leaves to break them up into smaller parts. This saves you a bit of cleanup when compared to raking; furthermore, the mulching motion allows the soil to reabsorb the leaves and nourish your grass this season. If you have a lawn mower, replace the blade with one appropriate for mulching.

Lastly, don’t overlook the importance of winterizing your lawn mower. Any fuel left inside could cause issues if it gets too cold, and possible damage the exhaust. Even if it does not cause damage, it can make the mower more difficult to get running again in the spring. 

Have Your Sewer Line And Sump Pump Checked

Experts generally recommend you check your sump pump pit once every three months or so by pouring water into it. If the pump activates, then you’re okay; if not, then you need to have it looked at. Problems, when they arise, tend to occur after an extended dry season.

It’s a good idea to check your sump pump when the forecast is calling for a rainy season. If there’s any extended work to be done, you’ll probably require a registered professional engineer equipped with small trench boxes they use to safely excavate the ground. They may need to dig to find the problem and ward off an impending failure.

All-in-all, it’s best to have your house checked for all the things that require maintenance; if they fail during the winter season, they’re more costly to repair or replace.

This is a sponsored guest post that may or may not reflect the views and ideals of Mommy Ramblings.