How to Prepare Your Home for a Snowy Winter
To make sure you can enjoy a winter wonderland this upcoming season and not be left out in the cold, make sure to insulate, stock up, and protect your home and backyard. If you do these things, you’ll be in for an easy spring without repairs and headaches.
Insultate
There are so many ways to keep your home warm and cut costs while doing so this winter. Some easy steps are sealing doors by adding weather stripping. You’ll want to make sure you prepare the trim of your exterior doors as well to prevent them from rotting by painting and caulking them. You can also add film to your windows to keep heat from escaping through the glass. You’ll want to insulate your pipes to avoid freezing and bursting. Insulating attics and basements is another way to keep the heat in. If you’re really looking to save money in the long run and can afford the initial cost, you can even replace old windows. With all that money you’ll save on heating bills, you’ll be able to afford one of those Banff homes for sale you’ve been looking at, where you can wait out the long winters on the ski slopes.
Stock Up
As Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail.” So, in order to prepare for the upcoming winter you’ll definitely want to stock up. Just like a squirrel stocks up his nuts for the winter, stock up on canned and dry goods for when trips to the grocery store are not an option due to dangerous snowy roads. Take advantage of summer produce by making soups or other dishes and freezing them. You can also can vegetables and fruits for jams and jellies.
Before the weather gets too cold, get yourself a stock of rock salt. Make sure to dig the shovels out of the basement and check that they are in good shape. You might also want to either invest in a snow blower or make sure the one you have is accessible and in good working order. Make sure to service it before the first storm, or you’ll be looking at back-breaking shoveling. It’s also important, if you have a fireplace, to clean your chimney. A dirty chimney can lead to fires or carbon monoxide poisoning. You should also chop or order firewood and store it in a dry place.
Protect your Patio
If you have a patio or deck, the first thing is to either remove furniture and store it in a dry place, or cover it during dry weather so you don’t trap moisture underneath. If you have a stone patio, make sure to reseal any cracks or loose stones, as the wet weather freezing and thawing will only cause more damage. Treat wood decks every few years with a weatherproofing stain or sealant to avoid rot. Prepare your yard by raking leaves and preparing your lawn. You can seed, aerate, and fertilize to prepare for spring. You’ll also want to properly clean and close your pool for the season. Cleaning gutters is also an important step in preparing for winter. If your gutters are clogged, this can lead to leaks deteriorating the exterior of your home or foundation.
