As the temperatures continue to drop, the thought of preparing the home for winter comes to mind. Depending on the efficiency and structure of your home, there are a lot of things that need to be done to keep your family snug during the coldest season of the year. If you haven’t gotten started yet, now is the perfect time as you can save your household a lot of money. Below is a list of preparation steps you should follow:
Evaluate the Energy Bill
If you’re like most families, the cost of heating can really ruin your budget. To keep costs to a minimum, you should evaluate your energy bill and determine where you can cut costs. For some households, the best option might be to switch energy providers. With deregulation in the energy market, homeowners have the ability to choose their supplier, which can save them money. To learn more about deregulated energy providers, visit http://www.albertaenergyproviders.com/alberta-gas-providers/Alberta/.
Seal Up the Home
If you have an older home, there is a high possibility that there are cracks and holes around the windows and doors that could be letting the heat out of your home. To improve efficiency, you have two options:
- Invest in New Windows and Doors – if you have the money to invest, then opting for more energy efficient windows and doors can save you money and keep the heat from escaping your home. There are several energy efficient window and door options for you to choose from and some of them might even warrant a savings on your taxes, which of course is an added bonus.
- Weatherize the Home – If you can’t afford to spring for new windows and doors then another way to prep for the winter is to weatherize your home. Installing weather stripping around cracks near the windows and doors will keep the warm air in the home. Draft guards can also be efficient for placing under doors. Plastic window kits are also an option to seal up your windows to keep the cold winter air from entering house.
Roof Maintenance
Snow, sleet, and hail are common forms of precipitation during the winter. They can really wreak havoc on your roof. Therefore, you want to make sure that the integrity of your roofing system is intact. While you could very well do these steps yourself, if you’re not fond of climbing a ladder, then calling in the pros is your best bet. When inspecting your roof you want to look for any cracks, holes, or missing tiles. These need to be replaced to prevent any leaks.
You also want to clean the gutters. Though this might not be anyone’s favorite chore, it really does help safeguard the roof. All the leaves and debris that have fallen over the last few weeks needs to be properly removed. Doing so will ensure that winter precipitation can easily flow off the roof and into the sewer as opposed to remaining stationary near your house (which can cause foundation issues).
There’s a lot to get done to prepare your house for the winter. Each of the above tips will not only improve your home’s efficiency, but it will also save you a ton of money. As you may or may not know, winter can be one of the most taxing seasons on residential properties. Taking these preparation tips seriously will ensure that your home is ready to “weather the storm.”
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