Before harsh winter weather locks you and your family indoors, there are a few maintenance tasks you should do in and around your home. If you ignore these tasks, winter weather can cause damage to your home and increase your energy bills.
Inspect the Roof
You should inspect your roof for damage before winter. If summer storms have caused any damage to your roof, winter weather will cause further damage. Summer hailstorms can dent the shingles, and shingles with dents will lose their waterproof abilities. Melting snow will seep under the shingles and cause water to leak into the attic.
Clean the Gutters
Clean the gutters of leaves and debris. If the gutters are clogged, the water from melting snow will have nowhere to go and could cause an ice dam on the roof. An ice dam forms when water freezes at the edge of the roof and creates a dam. This traps melting snow, which could then leak into the home.
Turn Off and Maintain Air Conditioner Units
Turn off the power to your central air conditioning unit. If the AC is accidentally turned on during cold weather, the compressor could be damaged. If you don’t know where to turn off the power to the AC unit, an air conditioning repair company will show you where to turn it off.
You should then remove all debris like leaves, twigs and grass clippings. You can use a hose to clean it. Use foam weather stripping around any openings in the AC unit to keep cold air out of the home and cover the air conditioner. This is a good time to have AC professionals check your unit for any repairs that may need to be done.
Check Your Furnace
Replace the filter for the furnace. If it is a permanent filter, clean it thoroughly. The furnace filter should be changed every three months or more often if you have pets. Turn on the furnace before cold weather to ensure it is working properly. You can also have an HVAC company perform a maintenance check on the furnace.
Seal Windows and Doors
Drafty windows and doors can make you feel cold all winter and force you to keep the furnace on longer, which raises your heating bills. Check around windows for cracked or missing caulking and apply new caulking. Apply foam weather stripping around all exterior doors and make sure the door sweep is adjusted properly to keep out cold drafts.
These winter maintenance tasks will help you stay comfortable during the winter and prevent possible damage from freezing temperatures and winter storms.
