As the cold weather season nears, it is important to prepare your home for winter. Winter brings with it a number of hazards and dangers that can make your life difficult and your home unsafe if you do not take the necessary precautions and protections to ensure that your home will be safe and secure. Preparing your home for winter can be a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips to help you:
- Shovels and snow blowers Get out ahead of the upcoming snowfall by stocking up on shovels and other snow removal products like snow blowers. Not only will you be able to clear the way, but it’s also great exercise! And remember, if you’ll be using a gas-powered snow blower, take safety precautions like wearing safety goggles and earplugs.
- Clear out your gutters. It’s a good idea to have your gutters cleaned out before the winter season begins. The last thing you want is a clogged gutter causing water damage to your home or a backed-up drain creating ice dams on your roof.
- Winterize windows and doors. If you live in a climate that gets below freezing temperatures, be sure to protect all of your windows and doors with insulation kits. You can buy them at most hardware stores or home improvement centers
- Snow removal equipment When winter storms hit, it’s important to be prepared with heavy duty equipment like shovels, tampers and salt spreaders so you can remove ice and snow quickly and efficiently to keep pathways clear for safety purposes. It’s also crucial that your vehicle is prepared for winter weather with traction mats, tire chains or even full-on winter tires depending on where you live.
- Ensure your furnace is working properly. While most furnaces are installed by professionals, most homeowners don’t know how they work or how to identify signs of trouble.
