How to Prepare Your Home for the Colder Months
While it may be warm where you are at the time of reading this article, the weather will surely cool down rapidly during the winter. But how ready is your home for the colder months? Read this article to find out some of the things you can do to make your home ready for the colder seasons and make it cozier. Let’s get started.
Crawl space wall insulation is when you apply fiberglass batts, foam boards, or spray foam to the concrete walls in the space below your home. Insulation can help prevent cold air from entering your crawl space, reducing the chance of mold growth, wood rot, and pest problems.
If your home has a basement or crawl space, a gap between your wall and floor could mean moisture is building up inside your foundation. When moisture builds up inside your foundation, the air molecules will rise and stick to your wooden supports. If you have fiberglass insulation on your basement or crawl space ceiling, moisture builds up inside the material, leading to mold growth.
Install a Boiler
One of the first things you need to do when preparing for the colder months is to install a boiler if you don’t have one already. If you do, however, you want to make sure that it is functioning properly. You also need to know when to choose a new boiler vs boiler replacement if you think your old one is giving you issues.
Repair Loose Roof Shingles
As the colder months are approaching, your roof needs to be in good shape. This way, they can keep moisture and icy accumulations away. You should check for loose roof shingles and make sure that they are nailed down properly. In fact, it’s best for you to call a professional to help you check your roof for damage before the colder months arrive.
Clean Out Gutters
A wet crawl space encourages mold growth. You don’t want mold growth in your crawl space because some air from the crawl space ends up in your home’s living area. Breathing mold spores can cause allergies and other respiratory issues. A crawl space drainage system ensures that the soil around the home’s foundation and crawl space doesn’t get saturated with water that can’t drain off.
As part of preparing your home for colder months, it is also essential that you clean out roof debris from gutters. If you haven’t already, you may also want to consider installing a leaf guard. Leaving your roof gutters clogged can increase the risk of ice dams forming at the edges and this can damage the roof and expose your home to risks.
Seal Window Gaps
It is also essential that you seal window gaps prior to the cold season. This is because window gaps can cause cool air to enter our home and make it even colder. And if you do not take care of this, it may expose your family to risks associated with too much cold. So make sure you check all your windows and seal all gaps.
Reverse the Direction of Your Ceiling Fans
If you have ceiling fans installed in your home, you may want to consider reversing their direction during the colder months. During the cold seasons, you don’t need your fans blowing more breeze. Instead, you want it to push back heat into the room. However, if your fan model does not support counterclockwise spinning, then you should consider switching it off during the winter.
Clean Your Chimney
A brick chimney may look solid, but it won’t last forever. Chimneys are exposed to the elements – sun, rain, wind, snow, sleet, hail – and eventually, bricks, and the mortar between them, will start to deteriorate. When that happens, the chimney will need to be repointed. The best way to save money on chimney repointing is to inspect your chimney at least once yearly.
The winter season is the season to light a fire. So if you have a chimney in your home, you should make sure you clean it before the colder months arrive. If you notice cracks or black soot, then you should call a chimney pro. When using your chimney as a source of heat during the cold seasons, make sure you follow fireplace safety tips.
So far, there we have a few things you can do to make your home ready for the colder months. Remember that during the cold season, you want your home to be warm and comfy, so consider installing the Best Combi Boiler or central heating system. In addition to that, do not forget to check and fix your roof and chimney if necessary.
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