Our homes can use a proper winterization, just like our car and other things. Preparing for winter means that your home will be efficient and prepared. Cold weather can set in quickly, and it is good to prepare ahead of time, so that you aren’t caught off-guard when it comes to freezing temperatures or snow.

Seal up drafts

A drafty home can mean a chilly space, and losing a lot of money on utilities. There are many ways to seal up drafts, from thermal window coverings to weather stripping to door sweeps.

You may also want to consider updating things like windows and doors. These can be a big source of drafts, and new windows can make a huge difference. Look into reliable vinyl window installation for getting your windows installed, as it is better to hire someone for the job as opposed to doing it yourself.

Maintain your furnace

Make sure that your furnace is running properly. Test your furnace and also replace the furnace filters regularly. It is good to make sure everything is in proper working order so that you aren’t left with a broken furnace in the dead of winter.

Winterize your outdoors

There are many things you can do outdoors to prepare for winter. Remove dead branches that can break in heavy snow or ice. Clean out your gutters so that they aren’t clogged with water that could freeze. Flush out your sprinkler system so that it doesn’t freeze. Empty hoses and turn off faucets that you don’t want to freeze up.

Protect Your Pipes

Insulate any pipes that are exposed to cold weather. In addition to pipe insulation, you can also take other measures such as insulating your home better (such as a garage that connects to the house) to minimize how cold your pipes will get.

Stock up on Winter Supplies

Make sure you have supplies for wintertime, well before you need it. There are the basics, like ice melt, shovels, and ice scrapers. If you have a snow blower, you will want to make sure it is in working order. The holidays are stressful as it is, and preparing for the holidays and winter will make life easier in many ways.

Be Prepared

You never know when there could be an outage or other emergencies. Make sure your smoke alarms are working, and have an emergency preparedness kit. If power outages are an issue and you live in a cold climate, you may want to consider getting a generator for your home.