12/15/2022
Prepping Your Home for Winter
Winter weather is upon us, and whether you live north or south, prepping your home for winter is a must. The tips below are easy to implement and will help ensure your home is prepped and ready for the months to come.
A plumber insulating copper pipes with foam pipe covers.
INSULATE PIPES
For those with extreme weather, a task that is often overlooked by many homeowners, but can help prevent potential big issues, is wrapping your home's pipes. Pipes can break when water freezes and expands. To help insulate pipes, wrap with pipe sleeves or pipe tape from your local hardware store. For those living in harsh winter climates, a heating cable is a good option. Remember: it's not just exterior pipes that could freeze - any pipe that is in an unheated or poorly insulated portion of your home is at risk of freezing in the winter.
Gutters on a home with long icicles hanging from the side of the house.
CLEAN GUTTERS
Winter weather can wreak havoc with your home's gutters. Before the weather gets really bad, ensure you clean them out. Not only do the gutters take a lot of weight if you live in a snowy climate, they can also contribute to water damage if the snow and ice inside are allowed to melt and refreeze night after night. Whether you do it yourself, or pay someone else to do it, clearing out the debris in your gutters is a must.
A bedroom with a high ceiling and fan above the bed.
REVERSE CEILING FANS
Ceiling fans are a great asset when you need to cool a room, but they're also beneficial in the winter. When the days get cooler, reverse a fan's direction in order to help push warm air down. Ensure the fan is off, then click the switch above the blades to reverse the direction. This will help warm air circulate and heat your room more efficiently.
A workman installing a new filter into furnace.
TUNE UP HOME SYSTEMS
Winter can really test your home's heating systems. Now is the perfect time to get your furnace inspected, tuned up, and replace the filter to help ensure your home has no heating issues in the coming months. If you have a fire place (either wood or electric), get it inspected and/or cleaned. For wood burning fireplaces, an inspection will help check creosote buildup, which left unchecked can cause health issues and is highly flammable. With many people inside due to colder weather, it's also an ideal time to replace the batters in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and test the units to ensure they work without issue.
Items in an emergency preparedness kit.
PREPARE AN EMERGENCY KIT
Winter is known for inclement weather, and whether you have to worry about snow, ice, or rain, having an emergency kit ready and accessible is important. Stock your supply with flashlights and batteries, weather radio, non-perishable foods, and a portable power bank to help recharge important electronics. If you have room in your budget, you can also invest in a generator if you want to ensure you have backup power in case of a power outage.
Winter is upon us. Whether you live in a sunny climate or are prone to blizzards, now is the perfect time to get your home prepared for the coming months. Send additional suggestions on winterizing your home my way: [email protected]. You can also see what's available on the local real estate market at my website: OklahomaHomeTours.com.
Stay warm and Happy Holidays!
Joy Phillips
RE/MAX At Home
3224 South Broadway Suite 225
Edmond, OK 73013
Office Phone: 4057086691
[email protected]
https://oklahomahometours.com
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Oklahoma Home Tours was founded with the mission to support buyers and sellers in the Oklahoma City Metro and Northern Oklahoma areas. I have bought and sold properties over the past 10+ years across the United States, and 1 simple truth remains: The Home Buying Experience is 1/2 Real Estate Knowled...
