Shielding Your House Against Cold Weather Damage: What New Homeowners Need to Know
By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
Summer is a preferred season for moving to a new home in Wichita Falls. For first time homeowners, it's a time which is brimming with adventure and zeal as you get to begin a fresh journey with your family whilst getting all moved in and settled. It is also a time of year you will want to begin thinking about how you can safeguard your residence from the extreme elements of approaching frigid weather which is coming up next as the seasons change. If you are new to the world of homeownership, follow this advice to make certain your property is winter weather ready this year:
Install Faucet Covers
Fixing burst water lines and faucets can be an an expensive situation, especially for new homeowners who've shelled out a lot of money to move to Wichita Falls to their new home in the first place. In advance of when frigid weather takes hold, be sure to install insulated faucet covers on each of the faucets on the exterior of your house. This is likewise a great time to inspect all exposed piping around your house and cover it up as needed.
Clean the Gutters
Ideally, you should have rain gutters with built in covers or screens to prevent leaves as well as rubble from entering the drainage reservoirs to begin with, however if not, then you should attempt to clear them out ahead of when the winter weather has arrived. Clogged gutters get bogged down with water and additional weight should they be not draining correctly, and this can result in the gutters falling off your residence.
Clean the Walkways
Leaves along with yard debris can get slimy when it starts to rot and decay in bad weather and snowy conditions, and so this might lead to slip and fall dangers. Have a hands-on method to protect your family members and visitors from incident and blow the clutter aside prior to when frigid weather begins.
Seal Doors and Windows
Drafts squander valuable energy and can lead to more expensive heating bills when frigid weather begins. Inspect each individual door and window at your residence and figure out if you're able to feel a draft coming through. Foam strips are a quick and inexpensive method to seal up the drafts in doors and windows. They come in a number of various thicknesses and styles, and have adhesive backs, to make sure they will stay on almost any surface. In the future, you can consider purchasing storm or replacement windows and doors that should perform a better job insulating your residence all seasons of the year.
Chimney Assessment and Cleaning
Chimney fires can be a serious problem that can be averted with a little attention before Mother Nature flips down the thermostat. Creosote accumulation and bird's nests are the most typical causes of chimney fires and may be cleaned out swiftly by a professional chimney sweep, who'll employ special equipment and brushes to completely clean out soot and creosote build up.
Furnace Upkeep
Now's the right time to take a look at the furnace, replace the air filters, and make sure the machine is working as it should. Your furnace ought to automatically identify when the temperature declines in your house and turn on consequently. Once you have verified that your furnace is functioning properly, move around the residence and look at each heater vent to make certain they're open and free of hindrances.
Secure Outdoor Furniture as well as Bbq grills
Severe winter weather elements might cause your outside grill as well as patio furniture to deteriorate and rot. Prior to when winter makes its presence felt, buy a bbq grill cover and deck furniture covers. Clean your stuff, allow it to dry totally, and afterwards carefully cover it for the winter. Chair covers, cushions, and pillows should be kept in the garage until warm conditions present themselves yet again in the springtime.
Think ahead and defend your house and outdoor equipment from the severe elements of winter. By making certain your house is winterized within the fall season, it can save you time and expense without having to deal with the stress of costly residence repairs.
We at A-1 Freeman Moving Group have all the labor and equipment available to help you move into your new residence, and can give you tips and advice concerning how to best protect your new investment once you are all settled in.
Contact us right away so we can help with all your residential move to Wichita Falls!