Recently we had a crisis at our house. Being a first-time homebuyer we were not familiar with the term winterize, but we should have been. This is our personal story and I hope that you can learn from our mistakes. Ok, about a week ago we noticed that there was a leak in our house that went undetected. The damage was depressing, but could have been a lot worse. I am sharing these tips with you because my family knows first hand how much these problems can cost if things are neglected or go undetected.
Even if you don’t know there is a problem, look around your house and check crevasses and your homes foundation to make sure that everything is looking OK. It is usually much cheaper when you catch problems early, than if you waited for huge visible signs.
After going through this, and having to send my children to my family’s home in another state while we work on fixing the problem. I know that by doing these simple tasks now, you will save yourself a lot of stress later on.
10 Home Weatherization Tips
- Check your roof. (Look for curled shingles and cracks)
- Look for small leaks.
- Rake or mow (if mulching unit is present) leaves that have fallen from the trees. My kids and I will be going outside today to rake the leaves. They love being able to help.
- Change your filter. We have a programmable thermostat that reminds us to replace our filter which is something that I can do myself. (Different filters have dates on them to let you know how often they need to be replaced.
- Clean gutters. (I really like how the video stated why this is so important. Cleaning gutters seems like a small price to pay to prevent foundation damage later on.)
- Close your hose. (Make sure outside faucets are free from water).
- Clean your chimney. (Get a professional certified person to do the job).
- Inspect your attic, make sure that everything looks OK.
- Check your doors and windows to make sure there are no drafts. This year we will have to replace one of our doors and Lowes and Home Depot both price match. Some fixes can be done with weatherstripping to help winterize your home.
- Insulate pipes and your attic if it needs more. Most hardware stores carry insulation that is easy to install on your own.