Winter is coming! Now is the best time to prepare for the cold winter months ahead. Protect your home with these time and money saving exterior home maintenance to-do’s:
- Check your roof for missing or lifting shingles. Inspect the flashing and sealant around vents.
- Clean eavestroughs and downspouts and ensure that water flows well away from your home.
- Act now to prevent slip and falls by repairing steps, sidewalks and driveways and replacing old or worn hand and stair rails.
- Inspect your windows and doors, replacing the caulking or weather stripping to help your home remain energy efficient.
- Winterize any outdoor faucets and lawn irrigation systems.
- Replace your furnace filter and hire a professional to have it serviced and cleaned. If your home has an air exchange, clean the main filter.
- Clean out your dryer vent to help improve efficiency and to prevent dangerous dryer fires.
- Check that your snow removal equipment is in good working order. Buy salt now while the demand is low and supplies plentiful.
- Remember that there’s no need to cover your AC unit in the winter. Doing so may result in condensation which could result in mould growth on the evaporator coils, decreasing efficiency and lifespan.
Taking action on your home’s exterior will be worth your efforts in the upcoming winter months.