Two focuses of my blog are Home/Living Discussions and Home/Property Discussions. If you live in a cold weather state, it’s critical that you think of ways to optimize your home during the winter months. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Prepare Your Property For Winter: 4 Simple Steps To Keep Your Home Safe From The Elements.
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Keeping your home safe and secure during the coldest months of the year is no easy feat. After all, it’s not every day that Mother Nature decides to bring snow and frosty mornings with her. Armed with the knowledge of how much time you have left until winter arrives, you can prep your home for an enjoyable stay and keep your family safe in a chilly environment. After all, safety comes first! Here are 4 things you can do to prepare your property for winter.
Have your boiler serviced
This might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about winter preparations, but it’s essential! If you haven’t had your boiler serviced in a while, this is the perfect time to set up an appointment. This will give you peace of mind that your heating system is in good working order and ready to last the winter. If parts are damaged or need replacing, you’ll have it done in plenty of time for your system to run at full capacity for the cold season. A boiler serviced annually will use about 30% less energy than one left un-serviced. This will lower your bills and reduce your area’s carbon emissions.
Be ready to clear snow from your property
If you’re lucky enough to live in a climate that sees a lot of snow, you should make sure you’re prepared to clear the walkways and driveways of your property. It’s best to do this as soon as the first flurries appear in the sky. Because snow can pile up quickly, it’s best to remove it as soon as possible. This will prevent you from doing it in large quantities later on. Shoveling snow at the first sign of it falling is also a great time-saver! You’ll want to clear walkways so that people can enter and exit your property safely and clear the driveway so you can get to your car when needed. Be sure to follow your town’s regulations for how wide your walkways should be removed. If you are unsure, you can use a Snow Removal company to assist you in clearing snow from your property.
Clear your gutters
When you think about winter preparation, you might not think of your gutters, but they’re an essential part of your home that needs tending to. Your gutters will collect a lot of ice and snow during the colder months. If they’re clogged with debris, your gutters won’t be able to do their job. You might find ice and snow building up on your roof, which will put extra stress on your home and could lead to leaks or structural damage. Your roof is integral to your home’s insulation and helps prevent heat loss during the winter. Ice and snow buildup puts added pressure on your roof and could cause damage or leaks.
Keep your pipes warm
While you should do everything you can to prevent freezing pipes if it does happen to your property, you should know what to do. There are many ways to keep your pipes from freezing over. You can wrap them in insulation, crank up the thermostat, or use heat tape. If you have exterior pipes, you can also shield them with sand, sawdust, or a foam sleeve. If a pipe does freeze, you’ll want to find it as quickly as possible and thaw it out. There are many ways to do this, including wrapping the pipe in hot water-soaked rags, running a blow-dryer on the pipe, or using a heat blanket.
Conclusion
Ensuring your home is prepared for winter is essential to staying safe and warm during these months. Having your boiler serviced, clearing snow and ice from your property, and keeping your pipes warm are three ways to keep your home safe and secure during the coldest months of the year.
