Most people don’t consider how poor weather conditions can affect their property. While storms and strong winds can cause sudden and serious damage, other elements can cause gradual, long-lasting problems you might not realize right away.
As you know, prevention is better than cure, and some forward planning and smart changes could keep your property and loved ones safe when the cold weather strikes. Here are five ways to protect your home during win.
Inspect Your Roof
Before the season starts, thoroughly inspect your roof for small and obvious signs of damage, such as loose flashing, missing or cracked shingles, sagging, and clogged gutters. If you fail to pinpoint and resolve the problems, your property could experience unwanted leaks, mold, water damage, or structural issues during winter and beyond.
If your existing roof is missing many granules, has cupped or curling shingles, or many appear cracked and old, it might be time to replace your roof. If necessary, metal roofs are a great option, as they are long-lasting, durable, and resistant to rot, mildew, fires, and mice infestations.
Apply Weatherstripping
Many homeowners weatherstrip their properties ahead of winter to seal unwanted air leaks. If you’re unfamiliar with weatherstripping, it’s a strip of vinyl, felt, rubber, foam, or metal you can apply to seal any gaps to prevent cold air, moisture, and debris from entering the property.
It’s a low-cost way to create a warmer environment for your loved ones, protect your property, and lower your energy costs. Also, it can stop outside noise from disturbing you and your family while keeping bugs and other pests at bay.
Insulate Your Attic Flooring
Stop warm air from escaping from your home by insulating your attic roof. It is an effective way to create a thermal barrier between your home and the ceiling, as it will push the air back down into the property. As a result, every room within the home will feel warm and cozy when temperatures drop, and you’ll be less likely to crank up the thermostat.
Clear Away Snow and Ice
While snow can make your house look beautiful during winter, it can cause serious issues for your property. It is essential to prevent snow or ice from building up against your property, as it can cause a significant amount of water to seep into your foundation or basement, leading to water and drywall damage, mold and mildew, and more.
Also, the weight of ice and snow could cause your roof to sag or collapse, tear away gutters and eaves, or cause overhanging branches to break. For this reason, push snow and ice away from your property when possible to protect its structural integrity.
Insulate Exposed Pipes
Burst pipes are a realistic issue during winter, as water expands when it freezes. If you have pipes in an unheated area of the home, water is more likely to freeze inside when the temperature is below freezing, turning it to ice. As a result, it can create a blockage in the pipe, which creates further ice and causes a pipe to burst. Prevent this problem by insulating any pipes on your exterior walls and inside unheated areas, such as an attic, basement, or garage.
