Dare We Mention Winter?
It seems like we just posted a blog about preparing your home for the hot summer months in the Midwest. To think that it’s the end of August already is mind blowing. High School football is already in week two and the NFL season is weeks away. It’s still extremely hot outside, but before too long, we’ll all be breaking out the light weight jackets for the chilly fall air. We know it’s crazy and slightly depressing to say, but we’re going to say it anyway….WINTER IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING!
Of course, we still get to experience the leaves changing colors in the fall, pumpkin carving, and some warmth throughout the daytime, but it’s about that time to start thinking about preparing your home for the cold winter months. We’re only posting this now so that you don’t wake up the morning before Thanksgiving with the family on the way over and no heat in the house.
There are a few standard maintenance routines and checkups you should do before it gets too cold outside to ensure your family’s comfort through winter.
- Add insulation to attics and basements. You don’t want precious heat escaping your home. If you’ve purchased a home from Rausch Coleman or are thinking about it, you don’t need to worry about this one. All our homes are Energy Star certified, meaning they are designed to make your home more energy efficient. We’ve taken care of the insulation already!
- Check your heating system. You want to make sure everything is working properly. If you didn’t bring out the heating and cooling specialist in the spring to look at your AC unit, it may be a good idea to call one to the house to check on your furnace. The cost of a simple check up and maintenance is significantly lower than fixing a break down or a replacement!
- Check pipes for any cracks. Wrap any outdoor pipes with pipe insulation.
- Check the roof! Just like we suggested in the spring, you should clean all your gutters. We know it isn’t fun, but the leaves can cause melted water to freeze in your gutters and cause ice damming. You may also want to consider trimming any overhanging branches. Heavy snow and wind increases the chances of breaking one off and damaging your roof.
- If you have a chimney and like to warm your home with a fire, make sure it is cleaned before you start the first fire of the season.
We hope you aren’t too angry with us for mentioning the word “winter.” It’s never to early to begin preparing, and before you know it, the days will be just a little shorter and a little colder. If you’re considering buying a Rausch Coleman home, read up about our Energy Star certified homes. They require far less maintenance while decreasing your heating and cooling costs. If you have questions about this, let us know. What did we miss? What do you do around the house to prepare for winter? Let everyone know by responding to this post. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
