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Five Steps to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Winters are becoming increasingly unpredictable. You may end up with a massive cold front and snow storm one week, and then it’s all melting the next

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Winters are becoming increasingly unpredictable. You may end up with a massive cold front and snow storm one week, and then it’s all melting the next, only to then freeze again and coat everything in dangerous black ice. You cannot personally control the weather, but you can prep your home with these five steps:

Inspect and Fix Your Exterior

Your exterior will experience a lot of wear and tear over the years, and not going through the effort of inspecting it for damages before the winter is a huge mistake. Siding in particular can work wonders to insulate and protect your home from rain, sleet, and snow, but if there are cracks or gaps then it cannot do its job. Wood siding may start to rot. There are many reasons why you will want to invest in insulated siding replacement services, but when you do, make sure it’s with a top-notch company.

If winters near you get particularly gruesome, you cannot afford to not splash out on the best siding replacement company, and with such good deals going on right now, it’s the best time to repair your siding or even upgrade it so your home looks beautiful and brand new. It’ll work wonders to keep you warm and dry this winter, so don’t dally.

Check Your Roof

Your roof will play a bit part in keeping you safe and warn during the winter, which is why you need to check it in advance in case it needs any repairs. If the tiles are cracked, peeling up, or just missing, you need to get it repaired, and possibly even replaced. If it’s been more than 10 years, it’s a good idea to bring someone in to inspect it, just in case.

Have Your Windows Tested

Double- and triple-glazed windows can work wonders towards keeping the heat or cold in your home, depending on the time of year. The problem is that these windows do lose their effectiveness over time, especially the older models. If it’s been 10 years since you moved in, and you bought the house from someone else, then get your windows tested for efficiency. If they do need replacing, rest assured that the job isn’t actually that expensive, because you aren’t cutting out a new hole in your home, you are essentially just replacing the glass.

Clean Up Your Back Yard

Your garden will need to be pruned, cleaned up, and even covered before the first frost. This is doubly true if you have any sort of water feature outside. Prep your garden for the winter, and it will bloom perfectly come spring.

Clean Your Systems

Your boiler and heating system need to be checked, vents need to be cleaned, and any issues should be fixed before the first big cold snap. Waiting until you feel cold, only to realize your boiler isn’t working correctly, often means you’ll experience a delay in getting someone out to it, because so many other people are in the same predicament as you. Get ahead and get your HVAC, heating, or boiler serviced before winter in order to be prepared for the cold.