Winter is coming, but you’re prepared, right? You’ve already started transitioning your wardrobe from short sleeves and shorts to comfy sweaters and long pants—but how ready for winter is your home? Is it prepared for the freezing weather, snow, and ice to come?
If not, your home could experience costly problems, even structural damage, that otherwise could have been avoided. Preparing your home to stand up to cold, stormy weather not only prevents damage from the elements and safeguards your energy bills, but also keeps everyone nice and toasty inside.
Use this checklist on how to best protect your home from the winter weather this year.
1. Check Your Heating System
Let’s start with the most obvious, yet critical, aspect of your home—the heating system. If it’s been a while since you’ve had it cared for, or if you suspect your furnace isn’t working properly, schedule a check-up. To do it yourself, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when replacing filters. Remove dirt and debris. Inspect and clean heating vents around the house.
2. Winterize the Air Conditioning System
Your air-conditioning system works hard in the heat of summer and then sits dormant during the winter, but it is still important to winterize it. Use a hose to spray clean the fan blades and condensing coils of dirt and debris. Pull out any leaves, and cover the unit for winter with a breathable waterproof cover.
3. Check Your Plumbing
Your plumbing is susceptible to freezing in cold weather, and when those frozen pipes burst, the result can be serious, costly issues, including structural damage. To protect your plumbing, do a visual inspection of all the water supply pipes in your home. If you are unable to do this yourself, it’s well worth hiring a professional to do an inspection and save yourself from expensive foundation repairs later on.
Have a summer home, or vacationing with family for a month or more? If you’ll be away from your home for the cold, winter months, make sure to shut off the water supply and drain the plumbing system before you leave, so that the possibility of a burst pipe remains at a minimum while you are away.
4. Check Outdoor Plumbing
Don’t forget to check outdoor plumbing as well. Ignored, these areas also can lead to burst pipes and structural damage. Your home’s exterior faucets should be covered before freezing temperatures arrive. The insulated slip-on faucet covers, or “faucet socks,” that can be purchased for a few dollars are worth every penny. Unhooking any garden hoses, draining them, and storing them is necessary before installing these covers. Other outdoor plumbing related to sprinkler systems, hot tubs, or spas should also be winterized as well.
Learn more about how moisture affects your home’s foundation.
5. Check Carbon Monoxide Detectors
During the winter, we tend to spend much more time inside, and this is when carbon monoxide poisoning is more common. Called the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating, but it can sicken you, and potentially lead to a loss of consciousness and death. Ensure your carbon monoxide alarm is still working, and give it fresh batteries to keep your home and your loved ones safe.
6. Inspect Fireplace, Chimney, and Flue
A wood-burning fireplace can be the centerpiece of good times and memory-making, but it can also cause smoke and home fires if not cared for. Before using it, make sure the chimney is clear of any critters’ nests. Ensure the damper opens fully so that smoke and flames are drawn up the chimney properly. Remember to close the damper when the fireplace is not in use to prevent your home’s heat from escaping. If you haven’t used a professional chimney sweep in recent years, depending on how often the fireplace is used, another visit may be warranted.
7. Check Exhaust Vents
Furnaces, boilers, gas water heaters, as well as kitchen stoves all use exhaust vents to clear air from your home. A significant blockage in the furnace vent pipe, for example, impedes its ability to burn efficiently and properly remove gases, resulting in health hazards. Check these vents to make sure they are open and unobstructed.
8. Inspect Windows
Removing insect screens before winter storms hit not only preserves them, but also increases natural light into your home. Clean the screens with soapy water and store them flat. Look for damaged or missing caulking around the windows as well. Add new caulking where needed. A properly airtight window saves energy and keeps your home safe and warm.
9. Check the Doors
Check door frames and moulding. If you can feel cool air coming in, add exterior-grade caulking where damaged gaps or holes exist. Any failed weatherstripping around doors, including the bottom door strip, should be replaced to keep cool winter air outside where it belongs. Add a draft guard between the bottom of the door and its threshold. A rolled-up towel or small rug can do the trick as well.
10. Inspect the Roof
Check for damaged or missing shingles and replace them. Flashing around fireplace chimneys and other vents can be sources of leaks and should be addressed before ice can form. (It’s a good idea to have a professional roofer do this work, as they have the proper safety tools.) Clear gutters and downspouts of leaves and debris to prevent moisture leaks and damage from ice dams.
Address Winter Foundation Issues with Professional Care
As you care for your home this winter, you may notice cracks in exterior or interior walls, windows that don’t open properly, doors that hang crookedly, or other signs of possible foundation problems. Don’t wait—get answers to help you care for your home and keep it in sound condition.
At Edens Structural Solutions, we pride ourselves on providing trustworthy, easy-to-understand guidance on your home’s foundation, and if needed, a plan to make repairs so your Tulsa/Northeastern Oklahoma area home retains its safety and value. Schedule a consultation with us.
