As a homeowner, you are responsible for year-round maintenance designed to keep your house in great condition. Winter is a particularly rough season, and without the proper preparations, you could risk damage to your house (which could cost a lot of money to repair) and discomfort and inconvenience to you and your family.
To avoid such a disaster, here is a list of the essential things you need to take care of before winter rolls around.
1. Seal doors and windows
If there are gaps or cracks in your doors and windows it could make it harder on the heaters to heat the room efficiently. It could also be a way for moisture to enter, possibly introducing mould or water damage to the house. There are various materials you can choose from, but tubular vinyl, rubber, or silicon offer the most secure and durable seals. To avoid having to replace seals now and then, you can install a weather-resistant door or double-pane windows.
2. Have a professional check your HVAC system
Winter means your boiler will be working almost 24/7 to keep your house warm. The worst thing that could happen during winter is suddenly finding yourself without heating. You must ensure that the heaters, vents, radiators, etc. are in tiptop shape to combat the freezing temperatures. Have a professional come by to check for any breaks in the mechanism and flexible hoses, clean the air ducts, replace filters, and check on the boiler to spot any problems. For any malfunctioning boilers, you can reach out to Boiler Repair Liverpool to get it sorted out as soon as possible.
3. Weatherproof exterior pipes
Winter is a problem for external pipes because the extreme temperature could cause them to burst, which could lead to serious damage to your home. Turn off the main water line that supplies the water to these pipes then drain them out. Weatherproof the pipes by wrapping them in insulating material, do this also for pipes that run along the basement and other colder spots in the house.
4. Check gutters and drains
Clogged gutters and drains could lead to a series of problems and damage to the house. Inspect your drains on a day where there hasn’t been any rain, to ensure your roof isn’t made slippery by water. Sweep off any dirt along the gutter and flush water down the downspout to detect if it’s clogged. If it is, you may have to disassemble it to find out what the cause is.
If your basement is showing water damage stains around the walls and ceiling, it may be a sign that the water isn’t being drained away from the house. To solve this, extend the downspout to direct the water away from the foundation.
Winter is a challenging season, but it’s also a time for Christmas and New Year parties and resting with your loved ones in a nice cosy house. By doing your duties as a responsible homeowner, you won’t have to worry about being troubled by the cold or leaky ceilings over the holiday season.
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