Winter Weather and YOUR Home- Be Ready and Save Money!

1. Invest in weather stripping

Weather stripping is a good way to help seal warm air in and cold air out of your home. Available in almost any hardware store, weather stripping installs quickly around windows and doors and can help prevent air leaks and to make your home warmer. Before winter arrives, check the following parts of your home for leaks or drafts: windows, doors, vents, fans, plumbing areas, air conditioners, mail chutes and electrical or gas lines.

2. Clean your gutters

Clear gutters help drain water away from your roof and your house. If they're clogged however, especially in colder months, they're more apt to freeze, causing additional blockages. Blocked gutters can allow melting ice and snow to seep into your roof, or flood your home's foundation, causing damage and issues.

3. Prune trees around the house

If there are long tree branches hanging near your house, your roof, or your gutters, prune them before it gets too cold. Branches broken from heavy snow and ice can cause all kinds of damage to your home. A few hours with the pruner now could save you thousands of dollars in damages later this winter.

4. Stock up on basics

You know what happens when the news calls for bad weather; stores flood with people, all buying milk, bread, batteries, flashlights, and duct tape by the truck load. Strong winds, blizzards, ice, and snow can cause blackouts and power outages, which can wreak havoc on your home in the winter. To prepare, keep supplies on hand!

5. Protect pipes from freezing

Having a burst pipe can cause more than $5,000 in water damage! Don't turn the heat down too much when you’re out of the house. You may not be there to enjoy it, but your pipes need the heat to prevent freezing. Let faucets drip during serious cold snaps to provide relief for your pipes. Give your home a once over for any exposed or vulnerable piping, and wrap them with insulation. Hardware stores usually carry foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves for pipes, which are easy to install. Caulk up cracks or holes in your walls to keep cold air away from pipes. This might not be practical for the average homeowner, so speak to a trusted contractor.If your pipes do freeze, and water stops flowing from faucets, call a plumber immediately!

 6. Test your sump pump

Keep your crawl space or basement dry by checking to ensure that your sump pump is in good 

working order before having to repair or replace during the cold and wet weather.

 6. Inspect your insulation

Check your home for tears or missing insulation to save money and keep your home properly 

insulated.