white house covered in snow

Smart Ways to Prepare Your Family Home for the Upcoming Winter

Winter brings lower temperatures that, when they fall below zero, can cause many problems in the house.

Therefore, it is recommended to do a seasonal review and preparation at home so that the winter season passes as quickly as possible.

Cold weather and snow can cause real damage to your home—unless you prepare it.

contractor fixing central heating furnace system

The drop in temperature alone requires additional warming of your home, either by heating, insulating windows and pipes, or by choosing pieces of furniture.

With the help of the following smart ways we have saved for you, you will effectively prepare your home and make your residence much more comfortable when the temperature falls.

Check All Heating Elements

Who wants to face the cold without good heating? In order not to run out of heating when you need it most, it is important to thoroughly check all the heating elements in your home before the first frost.

Check the furnace, boiler, and chimney and clean them properly. Then check the pipes again, and see if there are any leaks, cracks, or broken parts.

Considering that the heating is already in full swing, you will easily see if certain radiators or pipes are not heating as much as they should, so react in time.

Do everything related to maintenance or energy saving: this means pipe insulation, chimney cleaning, and boiler and furnace filter replacement. If you use air conditioners for heating, you should clean them properly and check if they are refilled with Freon.

In the late summer or early autumn, it is still early for the repairmen to be too busy, so you will probably be able to find someone to look at the furnace.

That is why it is best to complete all the repairs and services, as well as to provide heating oil on time. If you wait until winter, the repairmen will be overloaded with work, and there is a possibility that you will wait a month until someone is free.

Seal Doors and Windows

Did you know that about a third of the heat that is lost in space is lost due to inadequate doors and windows?

Inefficient heating and insulation can significantly increase your electricity bill, so why not invest that money in something better? Replacing windows and doors is not always an option, and sometimes it just takes a little dexterity to keep them from losing heat.

You can also contact insulation contractors such as iFoam in Southeast Houston to ensure that your house is well-insulated.

And therefore, there are a couple of solutions. One option, which is also the most expensive, is to add blinds or blinds to the windows, which will directly affect heat retention.

Another option is to invest in quality draperies and curtains that can also help, and the third, and also most cost-effective option that can have a great effect, is to get a sealing kit and to seal your doors and windows well.

Make sure to fill in all the blanks and you will quickly be able to see the result.

Autumn Cleaning for a Healthier Winter

And besides the cold, winter brings us another inconvenience, which is the season of viruses and more frequent illnesses. Experts claim that autumn cleaning can be an excellent preventive measure to get through the winter period more healthily and that it can have a beneficial effect on all household members.

With the temperature dropping and the heating on, the fabrics in the home can become a haven for germs, bacteria, mold, and dust mites that thrive in warm environments.

However, it only takes a few simple steps to prevent this, increase the chances of a healthier winter in your home, and keep these pests at bay.

Prevent Door Locks From Freezing and Isolate Pipes

If you’ve ever had this problem or live in a particularly cold climate, spray a little powdered graphite lubricant into each door lock (where the key goes), then turn the key in the lock.

The powder (sold in stores) lubricates the pins inside the lock to prevent sticking. Do this once a season.

Any uncovered pipe that runs along a wall or is in an unheated area is a possible danger. The water inside can freeze and cause pipes to burst when the temperature drops below freezing.

And finally, look up to cleaning professionals: they always have a plan of action that they always follow through on to the end.

Take the time to write down what needs to be done and prioritize the tasks that will take the most time but will produce the greatest results.

The general advice is not to stress about the details too much and don’t forget to invest in products and equipment that will make your life easier.