Winterize Your Home

Winterize Your Home

Winter can play havoc with your real estate property. All it takes is a frozen pipe that bursts to cause considerable damage. However, taking the appropriate precautionary measures to winterize your home may lead to considerable savings in the future. All it takes is a little preparation and maintenance to help prevent the cold temperatures from causing real damage to your property.

Furnace Maintenance

One of the best ways to ensure that your tenant does not have a furnace issue in the deep cold of winter is to have it maintenance before the temperatures plunge. By being proactive with annual maintenance efforts, you can keep the furnace working well into the winter months. Replacing a part that is wearing out costs a fraction of having to repair the damage the part will cause in the depths of the winter months. So, a little preventative maintenance can go a long way toward keeping the furnace working sound.

Insulation

The more insulation you can stuff into the attic and walls, the better it will be for the property. This will lower energy bills and keep the house cozy during the winter months. You should also check for any cracks or gaps in the roof and walls so they can be repaired. You can hire a professional to check out the home and see if additional improvements can be made for insulation purposes.

Clean the Gutters

One of the more overlooked ways to winterize your home is cleaning out the gutters. You’ll want to do so after the leaves have fallen, but before winter truly sets in. Clean gutters allow the winter rains to pass through properly so they do not damage your home. Not cleaning the gutters means they will quickly pack with snow and freeze. You’ll want to clean out the gutters that have been packed with snow or add some type of protection so they stay clear.

Energy Saving Doors & Windows

Entranceways take the brunt of the winter cold, so be sure that your doors and windows are energy sound. Keep in mind that even a small space under the front door, back door, or the door leading into your garage can allow cold air to seep in. You’ll want to look for any cracks around the window areas and get storm windows if possible to add further to the insulation of the home. Heavy curtains can also act as insulation, so keep that in mind when upgrade the real estate property.

In addition to these efforts, you’ll want to make sure the air ducts are clean and heat is coming out through every vent. Find the location of the pipes entering the home so you’ll know what area to keep heated so they do not freeze. In older homes, the garage is often the entryway of the pipes to the home itself. If you have a central air system, purchase a cover so that leaves and snow do not get packed into the fan.

Taking a few precautions to winterize your real estate property can put money in your pocket in the long run. All it takes is a little effort which can save you considerably during the coldest time of the year.