It’s that time of the year again! After a long, hot and muggy summer, we’re once again ready for a little cooler weather. Expecting some snow or freezing temperatures? Then you’ll need to take the necessary precautions to get your home ready for the winter season. These tips will have you off to a good start to tackle any potential winter storms this year. So take some time before the next storm hits and do these simple steps to prepare your home before winter arrives.
The violent weather that comes with changing seasons can impact your roof in ways you don’t notice right away. Although you can see shingles that have curled, cracked, or even fallen off the outside of your home, most people are not able to spot less obvious damage to other exterior elements of their home. The flashing around your chimney, for example. That is why it is important to have a professional perform an inspection on your roof. These are often free, and the contractor may be able to fix small issues during the inspection.
Gutter Cleaning
If your gutters are clogged with leaves, snow, or other debris, you’re at risk for “gutter overflow,” which can cause structural damage to your home. If you want to keep your gutters free of debris, I recommend having it done once in spring and once in the fall by a professional roofing company. They can also inspect bolts, brackets, and seams. The experts can also recommend the best methods to protect your gutters, such as with a leaf relief gutter guard system.
Check your Insulation
Proper insulation is one of the most important parts of the integrity of your roof system. Improper insulation can lead to uneven melting of snow on your roof, which will refreeze at the gutter line causing ice dams. Ice dams not only can damage your gutters, but they are a major cause of roof leaks. The water will seep in at the gutter line, and down in the exterior walls of your home, leading to rot, mold, and other structural damage over time.
Check Windows
Changes in climate can cause damaged windows to leak and make the room colder than it should be. This can cause your family to feel uncomfortable, encourage the growth of mold, and increase your energy bills. You can address this issue with window replacement, but it may be as simple as getting your windows resealed.
Repair Walkways
It’s important to pay attention to the condition of your walkways. Cracks, holes, and buckles in walkways will make walking more difficult and unsafe, especially when covered with snow or ice. If you plan on making a lot of improvements to your house, consider adding some temporary lighting to walkways in order to provide enough light for guests during holiday gatherings.
Trim Trees
This is an often overlooked bit of home maintenance, but it can save a lot of money and headaches in the future. Your trees have likely grown some over the warmer months, making your property look a lot more full and lush. However, this can lead to issues in the fall and winter months. Overhanging trees can lead to buildup of debris on the gutters, or even damage to your shingles if any branches drop when ice begins to freeze on the branches. It is important to make sure that these branches are taken care of before the inclement weather comes and it is too late to avoid the damage.
Maintain the Chimney
In order to increase your home’s energy efficiency and reduce your heating costs, clean the chimney and place a chimney cap on top. Homeowners often overlook the importance of this safety tip. After all, it’s not often that we look inside our chimneys. However, a yearly chimney cleaning can help protect against fires and keep out disease-carrying rodents.
After summer ends, it’s good to inspect your house for potential problems if you want your house to last over time. While you can perform these tasks yourself, the value of professional expertise can prove essential. Unfortunately, there is no way to ensure that your roof will be able to withstand the first major snowfall. The best solution is to hire a specialist – like the roofers at Deer Park Roofing – to handle all of your pre-winter maintenance tasks.
No roof lasts forever, but you can help yours last as long as possible by being vigilant with seasonal maintenance tips. Saving money and energy, as well as taking safety measures for your family and guests.
