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Since we tend to dream about Christmas as soon as the first leaf falls, we might as well get our homes ready for it as well. It makes little sense, after all, to vamp up your winter wardrobe and change the tires of your car if the rest of your house still thinks it’s summer.
Your electricity bill will suffer, the garden will stay a mess, and you’ll hardly have time to remove those icicles before they drop.
Use these nifty tips from well-prepared homeowners to get your home ready for winter before it’s even started.
Inspect your heating system
It should come as no surprise that colder days outside leads to higher household bills. You can pay an electrician as little as $80, though, and they’ll inspect your heat pump or furnace to make sure it’s clean and in a good standard throughout.
Doing this from time to time is a good idea even when it’s not winter as the electrician is also able to carbon-monoxide leakage. It’s the kind of hazard that can be really dangerous to your health.
The sooner you act, the better your chances are of getting a prompt response as every household across the nation will compare furnace prices and call to have their furnace inspected when the frost sets in.
Work with the airflow
Use your ceiling fan, if you have one, to give the warm air a sensible flow through your home. Use its reverse switch after cranking up the heat so that the blades run in a clockwise direction, pushing the warm air from your ceiling downwards.
You’ll thank yourself for it later when the electricity bills arrive, and the extra heat will make you feel warm and cozy without having to spend anything extra on it whatsoever.
Have a look at your roof
Loose shingles can be a hazard to passersby in case of a particularly windy day, and it may cause a leakage as well, leaving you to perform costly repairs. Get a ladder out, climb up, and have a look for yourself.
If you notice any loose shingles, call a roof repair service and have it fixed before winter arrives – don’t climb onto the roof yourself, it’s not the kind of job you’d like to break a leg over. It’s also a good idea to get those wet leaves off your roof if it’s flat and surfaced with pebbles or asphalt, so mention this to the handyman or woman as well.
Taking care of the few steps above can make a big difference when the first snow falls. You won’t have to worry too much about the added costs of staying warm and dry, and your neighbors can safely walk by your house without shingles hitting them.
You’ll be a good homeowner as well as an excellent neighbor, so give yourself some credit.
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