Let’s look at tips for winterizing your home. Winter Is Coming. Well, not just yet. But Fall is! With getting the kids back to school and getting ready for the holidays it seems to creep up on us quickly. There are a few things that you can do yourself or call a pro to avoid some potential problems and save some money before the winter really hits.

Winterizing Your Home, Tip #1 – Clean your gutters:
Cleaning the gutters can avoid problems such as ice damning or gutters overflowing causing water to pour against the foundation. This can cause basement leaks or foundation cracks as water freezes and is easily avoidable. Investing in gutter guards is always a good option along with making sure that downspouts pour out away from the house. It is generally recommended that downspout pour out 10’ from the foundation.

Winterizing Your Home, Tip #2 – Outdoor Faucets:
Remove any hose connections to any outdoor faucets. If a hose is left connected it can freeze and burst the faucet causing severe problems if not caught immediately. This sort of thing usually happens overnight or even worse when you are not home! Anti-freeze faucets are a great upgrade to protect from a potential issue.

Winterizing Your Home, Tip #3 – Hanging Branches:
Have hanging branches cleared away from the home before disaster strikes. As snow and ice build the potential for damage or injury increases. What may look like a pretty tree close to your home may not be so pretty when it comes through your roof.

Winterizing Your Home, Tip #4 – Protect your Air Conditioner:
The outside fan for your air conditioner is called the “condenser”. Covering it over the Fall and Winter months will keep it out of the elements and prolong the life of your unit.

Winterizing Your Home, Tip #5 – Seal Gaps and Cracks in Masonry:
A foundation crack or missing mortar in brickwork lets water in between the joints which can freeze causing the water to expand. This can cause major damage that can be avoided with little effort if taken care of early on. This is typical on chimneys. It is a good practice to inspect a chimney at least once a year to avoid costly repairs.