It’s technically still fall, but if you haven’t winterized your home yet, we urge you to ASAP to avoid costly repairs and to help reduce your utility bills. Many of these tips are low cost and some you can even take care yourself.
Be sure to replace your furnace filter every 2-3 months. If you have pets, you’ll want to go with every 2 months. For approximately $80-$100, you can call a technician to inspect your furnace to make sure it’s working efficiently and that there aren’t any underlying problems. Better to know now than when it’s freezing outside.
How old is your roof? While roofs are typically something that can last a long time, spring and summer storms can wear your roof and cause holes or loose shingles. It’s a good idea to check out your roof and look for any damaged shingles, missing, or loose shingles. Did you know that roofers will do partial replacement? You don’t need to replace your whole roof if you just have section that needs repair.
If your gutters have leaves and other debris, that could cause water to back up against your house which could lead to damage to the roof, siding, wood trim, and more.
Did you know that if you reverse the direction of your fans it will create an updraft and push warm air down into the room? This is especially helpful in rooms with high ceilings. Further, you can buy DIY window insulation for about $10-$12. These handy tips could allow you to turn your thermostat down 1-2 degrees, which can save you a surprising amount of money per month. Lastly, check your windows and doors. If you have gaps (no bigger than the width of a nickel), then it’s time to reapply caulking. According to Energy Hub, you could save as much as $10 per degree! http://www.energyhub.com/blog/how-much-is-one-degree-worth
If you have a sprinkler system, you’re going to want to either blow out the pipes yourself, or pay someone to do it. You don’t want to risk water in the pipes that could freeze and then cause a pipe to burst. Additionally, you’ll want to drain your outdoor faucets and possibly even get outdoor faucet insulation covers.
If you depend on your chimney to provide heat for your house, or maybe you just love to have a fire going in the cold weather, you’re going to want to get your chimney swept for the season. Birds and rodents can use your chimney for a home, which clogs the flue and prevent the toxic fumes to escape as intended. Getting your chimney swept will also improve its efficiency.
Do you need to aerate your lawn? What does aerating d for your lawn? Aerating helps with air circulation for the soil, it also allows for water and nutrients to reach the grassroots. Further, if your lawn gets a lot of traffic, feels spongy, or was established by sod, you’ll want to aerate your lawn. Keep in mind, you can always choose to do this in the spring before it gets too warm.
Even though Winter doesn’t officially start until December 21st, we don’t think you should wait that long to winterize your home. We’ve only had a few snow days, but temperatures have dropped overnight quite a bit and we’d hate for you to have something break, like your furnace, when it’s really cold!
Milestone Home Mortgage LLC NMLS #2588937. Michael Shotnik NMLS: 218281, CO License: 100017466. Not licensed in Alaska or New York. To check license status of mortgage loan originator, visit D.O.R.A. and NMLS consumer access.
