With cold temperatures on the horizon, it’s time to consider preparing your house for winter. While there are several areas to consider before winter is here, we want to remind you of a couple of the small details that can make a drastic difference. Preparation on the front end can save substantial time and money.
Take Hoses Off Faucets:
We remind our clients of this every year, but the importance cannot be overstated. When hoses are attached and freezing temperatures occur, frozen water can expand and crack the faucet or pipes. In fact, turning off exterior faucets completely, and draining any water from outside pipes and valves would be beneficial.
Crawl Space Floors:
Do not close the vents in your crawl space. Your floors should be insulated for the weather, but you don’t want to close the vents because moisture could be trapped in the crawl space, thus creating mold and mildew. Historically, many people close vents in the wintertime, which traps the air, potentially causing problems.
Clean Gutters:
Be sure to remove leaves, twigs, and other debris from gutters. Ideally, gutters divert water away from a home. If they are clogged, there’s the potential for ice dams. It’s important to check for leaks and to ensure gutters are attached to the house by gutter spikes. Also, downspouts and diverters should move water several feet away from the house, on a downward slope. If you don’t have slopes that drain water away from the house, you may consider utilizing the soft ground this time of year to create slopes to help water drain away from the home. This is also a great time to inspect the roof and replace any missing or damaged shingles.
Fireplace:
This is the time of the year to check your fireplace. Be sure there are no cracks or missing bricks or mortar. Also, take a look to ensure there is no buildup of branches, nests, leaves, or any other type of debris. It’s important to ensure the damper opens and closes properly, as well. Some people hire a professional to clean/ sweep their fireplace.
The above are just some basic maintenance tips to prepare for winter. We encourage you to be sure your home is ready for the freezing temperatures and snow. For more extensive ideas, take a look at these websites: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/502-winter-preparation-checklist/#.WegMsRNSyfU, https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/home-maintenance-tips/fall-checklist/, http://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/planting-and-maintenance/winter-gutter-maintenance.
If you’re free this weekend, come by our open house! We will be open at 17 E. Animas Village Lane on Saturday from 10-12 and Sunday from 11-1. We’d love to see you!
Post courtesy of The Durango Team of Real Estate Agents.
