Unless you are experienced with winter climates, you won’t think about winterizing. At least, not until spring arrives. Then, you might have some problems. Nevertheless, winter-proofing your house prevents all of these headaches.
Table of Contents
1. Common Winter Home Problems
First, it would help if you knew what the most common winter problems are. Most Northerners will be familiar with the following issues. Anywhere that reaches below freezing could experience them.
Frozen Pipes:
Frozen pipes can be a serious problem. Not only does it damage them, but it could even flood your home. Ultimately, a burst pipe can be incredibly expensive.
Rodent Infestations:
When it drops below freezing, critters get cold. It’s not uncommon for them to seek refuge underneath your home. However, they still get hungry. If you have a rodent problem, they can cause a ton of damage.
Roof Damage:
Of course, even snow can damage your home. Hopefully, your roof is ready to handle the weight. Otherwise, get prepared to buy a new one.
2. Benefits of Winter-Proofing Your Home
Why should you winterize your house? Well, unless you enjoy home repair work, it is your best option.
Prevent Your Pipes From Bursting:
For example, winterized pipes are much less likely to burst. That way, you don’t have to replace them or deal with any flooding.
Less Repair Work in the Spring:
Spring is the season of house repairs. Every year, plenty of people forget to winterize their property properly. When the snow falls, they must get to work. By winterizing your home, you can enjoy your spring.
Minimize Your Monthly Electric Bill:
Best of all, your pocketbook will thank you. A winterized home is much more energy-efficient. Meaning, your Columbia gas bill should be a lot lower. Unless you like paying huge utility bills, winterizing should be at the top of your priority list.
3. Home Winter-Proofing Tips
So, what can you do to prepare your house for the cold? Luckily, getting things ready is not that difficult. In fact, it is relatively straightforward. Most importantly, insulate everything. Insulating your home protects you from the worst possible damage from the winter.
Treat Your Pipes:
Start with your pipes. Insulating them ensure they will last through the winter. Not only does that keep the water flowing, but it prevents your home from suffering any water damage. If you plan on leaving town, turn your faucets on very slightly. Running water is much less likely to freeze.
Insulate Your Attic:
Which direction does the heat go? Typically, the heat rises. During the summer, an uninsulated attic isn’t a big deal. However, things change once winter arrives. Because heat rises, an uninsulated attic will drastically increase your heating bill. Simply adding a layer of insulation could cut your utilities substantially.
Put Up Thermal Window Covers:
Other than the attic, Windows are another major source of heat loss during the winter. Luckily, taking care of that is simple. All you need to do is grab some thermal window covers. Put them up on all of your windows. That way, you slow down the flow of heat through them. A single layer of window insulation is more than worth the expense. They will lower your utility bill. Plus, you can reuse them next year.
Preparing Your Home for the Winter
If you are a new homeowner, winterizing may seem a little intimidating. Once you get some experience under your belt, you’ll realize it’s not that much of a challenge. As long as you remember to do it, it isn’t much work at all. Plus, it will save you a ton of money on home repairs. Why don’t you go ahead and get started?