It’s Fall time here in Tennessee, Winter is near…the days are breezy, the leaves are changing colors and falling from the trees, grass isn’t having to be mowed as much, the nights are coming earlier, and are getting much colder…Yelp, it’s Fall time in East Tennessee.
As you sit and watch all the beauty around you unfold, make sure you’re prepared for the winter ahead. Winterizing your home is very important, especially for home owners.
If your home isn’t properly winterized it can lead to some very expensive repairs. So make sure you have an contractor come out and look at your home before the winter weather gets here.
Here are some important things to do and look for to help prepare you and your home for the colder weather ahead, this will ensure a safe place for your loved ones, as well as save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
Gutters
Make sure to clean and clear your gutters often, backed up gutters can lead to very expensive roof repairs, as well as interior repairs if the damage is bad enough. Also, have a professional check and make sure you have enough down spouts and everything is working and flowing as it should be. This is small repairs and things that cost under a few hundred dollars to do, but can lead to major issues if not seen about, which leads into the thousands. So make sure to clean and check your gutters regularly.
Roof
It doesn’t matter if your roof is new or not, roof issues can happen to any home, no matter the age of the homes roof. When these issues happen, if not addressed immediately, they can cost into the thousands to fix. I urge everyone to have someone come out and check their roof thoroughly, looking for any weak spots or bad spots, and make sure flashing has been put on properly where needed.
The winter brings snow, and lots of debris, which is very heavy and hard on a roof, not to mention all the moisture in the winter time that can cause damage as well. It doesn’t cost much to have someone come out and check just to make sure your roof is in tip top shape for the weather to come. I know I’d rather pay a few hundred dollars then a few thousand and be on the safe side, not to mention the safety of your family.
Plumbing
We all know how pipes can freeze and even bust in the winter time. It is very important to get all of your plumbing checked before the winter time comes, it could save you hundreds, or even thousands of dollars. There are some states that get so cold they actually wrap their pipes up for the winter times, luckily we don’t have to do that here in Tennessee, but we still have to make sure our plumbing is in good shape and there’s no cracked or faulty pipes anywhere. Busted pipes can lead to a lot of water damage, and sometimes lead to having to replace flooring and walls, and so I urge you to make sure yours is ready for the colder weather to come.
Windows & Doors
This time of year when it starts getting colder, it’s always a good idea to make sure your windows and all your doors are sealed good and there’s no cold air getting into the home, or heat getting out. This is an easy way to help you save money throughout the winter months and keep your family nice and warm. I suggest getting them all resealed if it’s an older home, and for newer homes, just make sure they are sealed properly. This not only helps conserve your heat, but also will help keep any moisture out as well.
Trees
If anyone has any large trees by their home they have been wanting cut down or trimmed back, this is the time to start thinking about doing that. It’s best for most trees to cut them back, or down in the Fall or Winter months when there are no leaves on them, it helps conserve certain trees and so they won’t die, if it’s just a tree that’s being trimmed up a tad that is. Make sure any and all trees close to homes or roofs are done by an professional that knows what they are doing. I would recommend any trees over roofs or homes to be trimmed back far enough away from the home. This can cause damage to roofs if it’s left hanging over a home.
Foundation
It’s always a great idea to get the foundation of your home checked out at least once a year, and to me this is the best time of year to do that. Make sure that everything is in tip top shape and there’s no issues, that your home can withstand anything coming it’s way. If the foundation is bad, then chances are your home won’t be able to withstand much. I mean, without a good foundation you have no home.
Flooring
Flooring is important in a home, and that’s why it’s always a good idea to make sure your flooring, sub-flooring, and floor joist are all in good condition. It doesn’t cost much for someone to come out and check everything making sure things are level and have have no issues, or no future ones as well. We usually go under the home and check everything for our clients, you would be surprised what we have found and been able to fix for a fraction of what it would have costed had the floor actually given in and had to been completely replaced, which is what would have happened had we not found the issue before it got bad. So make sure you have your floors checked very well by a professional that knows what they’re looking for.
Heating
Make sure your heating is up to par. Clean all vents out, make sure the duct work is in good shape and doesn’t need replacing or taped up anywhere. If you use another source of heat, make sure it’s working properly as well.
In closing it’s always a great idea to get your home Winter ready and inspected, you never know how much money you could save, an $1000 issue could have been found and resolved for just $200 and so always make sure you have your home inspected and winterized every year.
We here at DC Painters & More will come out and check everything, just give us a call. We work with all payment types, and we have specials running all the time.
Guaranteed to be the lowest price around.
DC Painters & More 