When winter rolls around, you want to be able to enjoy the falling snow, hot chocolate, and cozy nights without having to worry about your family’s safety and comfort. It’s important to prepare your home for the freezing weather ahead so that you don’t accidentally find yourself with a broken-down furnace or malfunctioning sump pump.
Are you looking for a checklist that will ensure you’re prepared for the season ahead? We have you covered. Let’s discuss some of the best tips for winterizing your home below!
Prioritize Plumbing Maintenance
If you want to create a winter preparedness checklist for home, you’ll want to begin with two of the most important systems: your plumbing system and furnace. We’ll start with plumbing.
Many components make up a home’s plumbing system — these can include everything from small fixtures to large devices. It’s crucial that you inspect these components to make sure that they’re working properly and in the best possible condition.
Water Heater Maintenance
For starters, you’ll want to keep up with water heater maintenance tasks. If you have a traditional water heater, it’s vital to flush the tank regularly to prevent sediment buildup. When sediment builds up at the bottom of the tank, this can cause the water heater to run inefficiently and may even lead to costly water leaks.
Sump Pump Inspections
Although there are many tips for winterizing your home that might pique your interest, don’t overlook the importance of checking your sump pump. When you test your sump pump on a routine basis, you can rest assured that it’s working correctly and ready for whatever the winter weather throws its way.
If you notice something wrong with your sump pump, don’t hesitate to contact a professional plumber for assistance. The technician can provide you with any necessary repairs.
Drain Checkups
The winter season is a popular time of year for family gatherings and celebrations. If you’re worried about your bathroom and kitchen drains becoming clogged, scheduling drain cleaning services can help ensure that you don’t encounter a stubborn and inconvenient blockage.
Along with taking care of your drains and scheduling maintenance, there are other ways you can winterize your home as well. For example, you should disconnect and store garden hoses to prevent them from freezing and bursting in cold weather. You can also install insulation on outdoor/exposed pipes to keep them from freezing when the temperatures drop overnight.
Keep Up With Your Furnace’s Needs
Our winter preparedness checklist for homes must highlight the importance of furnace preventative maintenance. As your heating system gets older, it can experience any number of problems — and some of these issues can put your family in danger.
If you have a gas furnace, you probably know that your heating system has a method for safely and efficiently venting carbon monoxide away from your home. However, an old, outdated furnace can develop leaks and cause carbon monoxide to enter your living spaces. Although carbon monoxide detectors are incredibly helpful in preventing CO poisoning, you should have your furnace checked by a professional to ensure it’s working correctly.
There are many benefits to scheduling annual furnace maintenance services. While these services can provide peace of mind that your heating system is running safely, they can also potentially help you save money on your energy bills.
Check Your Home’s Insulation
During the winter months, heat loss is a major concern for homeowners. You don’t want to spend money heating your home when that heat is simply exiting through cracks in your windows or poorly-insulated roof.
Checking your insulation is one of the most important tips for winterizing your home. Your attic should be well-insulated, and if it isn’t, you have many insulation options to choose from. You’ll also want to inspect your doors and windows for potential heat loss. You can caulk your windows and doors or seal them up with weather stripping.
If you want to achieve an energy-efficient home, one way to do this is to install the right amount of insulation. When you prevent cold air from entering your living spaces, you’ll waste less energy and potentially save money on your heating bills.
Adjust Your Ceiling Fans
Your ceiling fan has two settings: one that makes you feel cool during the summer, and one that keeps you warm during the winter. Now that summer has come and gone, it’s time to reverse your ceiling fans.
You want your ceiling fans to spin counterclockwise in the summer and clockwise in the winter. When the fan spins clockwise, it will send the warm air down and circulate it through the room.
When marking off your winter preparedness checklist for home, don’t forget this simple but significant tip.
Inspect Your Winter Equipment
Winter storms can come out of nowhere — and when they do, you want to be prepared. To make sure you and your family are ready for whatever the weather throws your way, take stock of the winter-specific equipment in your storage.
Make sure your snow shovels, rock salt, and other important items are easily accessible. If you’re running low on supplies, make a quick run to the store and stock up on the essentials.
Remember to Clean Your Gutters
Although you may roll your eyes at the thought of climbing up a ladder to clean your gutters, this is one of the most important tips for winterizing your home. When leaves, twigs, and other debris collect in your gutters, they can block the flow of rainwater. If this water freezes on top of your roof, you may find yourself dealing with ice dams.
Cleaning your gutters can help prevent ice dams, stop costly water damage from occurring, and more. Don’t ignore this simple maintenance task!
Get Ready for Winter With Help From Mike Williams
Now that we’ve gone over our winter preparedness checklist for homes, it’s time for you to get started with your planning. If you’re ready to schedule plumbing or furnace maintenance services, Mike Williams is here to help. We offer a wide range of services for heating systems, drains, sump pumps, and water heaters in Champaign, IL, and the surrounding areas like Urbana, Normal, and more.
The cold weather can pose many threats to your household’s comfort and safety. Fortunately, you can count on our team of experts to be there when you need us most. Whether you need a plumbing service or furnace repair in Bloomington, IL, we can provide you with a dependable solution. Contact us right away to schedule an appointment!