Let's be honest we all make these mistakes from time to time during the winter. Thinking about the cold and convenience of not wanting to go out during the day. Or we are simply too busy with our daily lives we just do not have the time to prep our homes for winter. I understand both of these, between having kids, working full time, attempting to keep up with daily house chores, and managing life its very hard to add more tasks onto your plate. However these are things that can cause damage to our homes over time if they are not taken care of each year.
In this blog today I will discuss the most common mistake homeowners make when preparing for winter and during winter. Continue reading on about what these are and ways to prevent these common problems from damaging your home.
Winter is one of my favorite seasons. Why? Honestly it's the beauty of the snow and frozen landscape. I enjoy the cold and watching how the land changes during this time. Things die off and come back to life once winter is over. Where I live the wildlife comes down where the kids and I can see them daily. I enjoy seeing them and teaching my kids about them. We love being outside during this time playing in the snow, the holidays and the memories we can make. Hot cocoa movie nights, while being snuggled up by the fireplace. With all of this fun also brings on extra winter duties as us homeowners need to manage every single winter season. It is very important for us to prepare and be diligent about. Just because it may seem like a small problem that may not cause much damage, over time it can become a larger issue. Taking the time to prevent and fix these things will not only save you time in the future it will save you money.
What about winter do you enjoy?
The Holidays
The Snow
Winter Sports (Foot Ball, Basketball etc...)
Sledding, Skiing, Snowboarding
Not Winterizing Sprinkler System
Not winterizing the sprinkler system will not only eventually lead up to burst pipes it can harm your yard and potentially lead to a flooded basement. When the water in the lines freeze and thaw the water expands and contracts. This causes the pipes to do the same. Yes the material is decently flexible and will work with it however it can only do this for so long before it starts to break. This preparation is decently simple to do yourself or if you are busy or unsure how to you can hire a plumber to do it for you.
My husband and I will get our air compressor out and blow out our sprinkler system after the secondary water is shut off and we are unable to water our lawn any longer. I have given a link to a youtube video showing you how you can do it. It is important for you to know how your system works and how to maintain it.
Here is a video showing you how to do it yourself. If you are still unsure how to do it call a plumber and have them walk you through how to maintain your system.
Not Keeping Up With HVAC System Maintenance
It is so important to maintain your HVAC System throughout the entire year. Each season change brings temperature changes. Going from extreme heat, to cool fall days, to freezing cold winter days it is very important to know if your system can handle these changes. Here in Utah we are constantly turning the heat and ac on and off with how quickly our temperatures rise and drop in this desert we live in. Changing the filter regularly will also help your system be able to breath and function without all of the extra dirt, hair, and dust build up. It will also prevent allergens from floating around in the air throughout your home. Having a professional come in and take a look at the entire system will also help it function the way it needs to and keep your family comfortable.
Not Cleaning or Checking The Gutters
Let's face it gutters are hard to maintain for many homeowners. You have to either get on the roof or use a ladder to look at all of it. I am personally one who struggles with this one. However not taking the time or hiring a professional to come in and help care for this can lead up to some major issues such as backed up water and potential damage to your home with water not draining correctly. Those beautiful icicles coming off of your roof during the winter are beautiful to look at, take pictures showing how cold it has been etc.. But those beautiful things can be a sign telling you something is wrong with your gutters. This could mean you have something clogging the gutters in the area. Not only is a clogged gutter a problem but the weight of the icicles over time can cause your gutters to start separating from the roof and fall off or sag. It can cause water to leak onto the side of the home during a rainstorm or once the snow melts it can make its way into your home. Now you have to repair the gutters and you will need to repair the internal or external damage. Not to mention a breeding ground for mold to start if this issue continues.
Not Replacing Door Seals
This is honestly something that is more of a year round maintenance you need to attend to. During the winter if you have not checked all of the door seals and replacing them it could be costing you money. If you have tears or holes in the door seals heat is escaping out and the cold is coming in. Not only is this not helping your HVAC system due to it having to work harder to keep your homes heat up. Any gap is a potential space for water to enter your home, not only water but little critters and bugs love these gaps. They get cold and look for shelter to warm their tiny disgusting bodies up. They may even wander into your home looking for food. So they now become a permanent roommate to you and your family. Yikes! So replace those seals and keep out the water, bugs, and critters.
Not Repairing Exterior Holes and Cracks
I know I have been talking about mold, water, bugs and critters on and off in this article but this one really takes the trophy for these key issues. Taking a few minutes to inspect your homes exterior for any cracks, holes, and separation can be a major money and time saving todo list item. You would be surprised how small of an opening a mouse can squeeze through when entering a home. All they need is the width of a pencil that is 1/4th of an inch or 6mm. It is RIDICULOUS! If you find small cracks the width of a pencil or larger you may want to consider getting it repaired. Not only do mice tend to come in to get warm bugs and other critters like racoons could be wandering into your home. They all want shelter with warmth and the safety from predators. They will move in permanently, ew I know. These cracks can lead to water leaks and mold growth as well as having that extra unwanted roommate.
Straining Your HVAC System
This one's for you vampires or cave dwellers like my husband. I will open the blinds and curtains to only return and find them ALL closed again. Allowing the the sun on a sunny winter day can really help heat your home and give your HVAC system a break from constantly having to heat your home day and night. Letting the sun in will not only help heat your home but can break down any bacteria build up it has. The sun does provide health benefits to you physically, mentally, and emotionally. So open those blinds give your HVAC system a break and enjoy those health benefits.
This blog I could keep writing on and on about. However I get you don't have hours to read every single thing you should do to help your home during the winter. You as a homeowner need to be diligent and maintain your home season after season after season. It will help prevent any issues from arising in the future it will also give you the chance to fix any issues you may currently have.
Even if you are not thinking of selling your home it would not hurt to hire a home inspector to come and take a look for you. This I understand can cost upwards of $300-$500 or more but it may be worth the money and it would cost you less than having to fix an issue that went unnoticed for an extended period of time before it is too late.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog! Without you this would not be possible. If you have any questions or need want/need to hire someone for repairs etc but do not know who you can trust. I would be happy to refer you to ones I have personally used and trust. When I send a referral to anyone for a professional I have personally used them in the past and was happy with their work.
I hope you have a wonderful and safe winter season. I look forward to connecting with you.