As summer is on its way out and winter gets closer, it’s important to make sure that your home is prepared. Winter tends to bring with it cold, wet conditions that can result in costly damage to your home if proper preparations aren’t in place. Here are some things you can do to make your home more weatherproof this winter.
Seal Entry Points
Preventing warm air from escaping and cold air from entering your home through points of entry is a good first step to take in weatherproofing your home. The biggest areas of concern are probably your windows and doors. You can tackle this yourself by applying new weatherstripping if yours is damaged. Check the area around your windows and window frames for any cracks. If you find some, you can seal those up with some caulking.
Protect Your Home Exterior
Of course, if your home’s exterior is in top shape, you may be able to prevent weatherproofing issues inside your house from happening in the first place. From your roof to your foundation and everything in between, it’s important to make sure the exterior is prepared for winter conditions. Make sure surfaces are clean and in good condition, performing repairs as needed.
If your foundation isn’t protected from water, consider adding some dampproofing or waterproofing protections to it. Don’t neglect your driveway either, especially if it’s made out of asphalt. Once water damage starts, it only gets bigger. A sealcoat can protect your driveway from various natural elements in the winter.
Proper Ventilation
With all the talk of sealing, you might be surprised to hear that making sure your house is properly ventilated is also an important part of making sure your home is weatherproof this winter. It’s especially important that your HVAC vents and dryer vents are clean and ready for use. Blockages in these vents can cause systems to run inefficiently. In the case of dirty dryer vents, lint can actually pose a pretty serious fire hazard, so it’s also dangerous. Make sure your vents are clean to keep your heater and dryer running properly.
As a homeowner it’s in your best interest to make sure your home can stand up to winter weather conditions. This means taking steps to weatherproof your home. Start by sealing entry points, protecting your home’s exterior, and ensuring you have proper ventilation throughout. This will help you make sure your home is prepared for the winter.
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