Before the winter weather in the Collingwood area is here to stay, now is the time to prepare your property. Many home maintenance tasks will keep your house in tip-top condition and can prevent major repairs and issues from occurring during this cold season. Some of these projects will take a little time and money, but they will help you feel peace of mind during the roughest winter storms and the freezing temperatures.
Service Your Furnace
Your furnace is one of your most essential home appliances during the winter. You must take good care of it to ensure it works well all season long. While you should replace the filter often on this appliance, this isn’t enough. At least once a year, hire a professional to maintain and service your heating system. He or she will make sure the furnace is in excellent condition and will check for any potential issues.
Maintaining your furnace now will prevent it from breaking down, causing you to potentially be without heat for some time.
Clean Your Chimney
When was the last time your chimney was professionally cleaned? Debris and sticky deposits called creosote can stick to your chimney’s walls. These substances are highly flammable and can increase your risk of a house fire. If you plan to use your fireplace even once this winter, call a professional chimney sweep today to schedule your next cleaning.
Clean Out Your Gutters
Before too much snow covers the ground, spend an afternoon cleaning out your gutters. Your home’s gutters can accumulate a lot of debris, twigs, leaves, and more during the year. If these items are not removed from the gutters, they can freeze and cause drainage issues. You increase the risk of water damage to your home’s foundation, roof, and other areas of your property.
Improve All Seals On Doors and Windows
One home improvement task that will get your house ready for the winter weather is to improve all of the seals around your doors and windows. If there are cracks or holes in your seals, the hot air inside your house will escape. This will decrease your home’s energy efficiency and increase your monthly heating bill.
As you fix the seals around your doors and windows, check both your interior and exterior seals. You may want to replace all old and worn-out weather-stripping on exterior doors as well.
Get Snow Removal Items Ready to Go
Do you have your snow shovels ready? Do you have a full bag of salt to spread on icy sidewalks and pathways? You will not want to wait until the first big snowfall to get these items ready to go. Make these items easy to access and if your shovels are broken or you need more supplies, go to your local Collingwood store today to make the purchase.
When you are prepared for the winter weather, you will have less stress each time a major storm or freezing temperatures occur in the Collingwood area. Add the above tasks to your to-do list this week and prepare your house now for this wonderful, but cold time of year.