No matter what time of the year it is, weatherproofing your home should always be a top priority. Many homeowners take their homes for granted. Which can often mean many maintenance checks are overlooked or forgotten about. Whether you experience, wind and rain or blazing sunshine, your home will take the full force of these elements. If unmaintained your home will eventually deteriorate, which will decrease it’s comfort levels no end. You could begin to have leaks, damp and draughts in your home which could have easily been avoided. If these issues continue to develop, you may even be forced out of your beautiful home. You may think that weatherproofing your home is a time consuming and challenging task to undertake. But the following checklist will show you just how quickly and easily it can be done.
Check all doors and windows
It’s likely that you use the doors and windows in your home on a daily basis. Whether it’s entering or leaving a room or letting in fresh air and light. But overtime these essential areas can become vulnerable due to age and damage. Which in turn can raise the chances of them letting the elements like rain, wind and snow into your home. Go through the exterior and interior of your home and thoroughly check for damage. This is particularly important on the doors and windows that are facing outwards. If you do find any holes, gaps or ageing, you need to either replace the item or repair it. Your could call in an expert to do this or do it yourself, as it’s considered a basic home maintenance task. For specialist doors like storm doors and garage door, it would be wise to get a professional to do any replacements and repairs you may need. You can go online and discover details from www.garagedoorservice.com. Or search for storm windows and doors specialists in your area. Doing this task will reduce the risk of draughts and leaks while also keeping your home insulated and fully protected.
Clean your gutters and drains
This is a task nobody enjoys doing, but it’s one of the best ways to weatherproof your home. Leaves, twigs and other debris can easily get caught in the gutters and drains on your roof. Which can create a dam-like effect on any rainwater you may get. If left long enough, this blockage can cause rusting, flooding and can even make your gutters so heavy that they become unattached. All of these can cause damage to your property and be hazardous to you and your family. So grab yourself a ladder and some suitable tools to remove the debris. Always make sure someone is spotting you and keeping the ladder secure. If you have drains and gutters on your roof, always hire a professional as you may not have the skills and experience for this specialised task. Research experienced exterior cleaning experts on sites like www.guttercleaningpdx.com for more information
Repair pipework
Water damage can easily be caused by a damaged or bust pipe. Causing a flood in your home and damage to your belongings. If the water is allowed to flow for a long period like when you are on vacation, it can even compromise the structures of your floors and walls. Leaving you with expensive repairs to deal with. So it’s vital that you check that the pipework in your home, paying close attention to your bathroom, basement and kitchen. If you do find and cracks or leaking, find repair service at www.kiboshpiperepair.com or via your local hardware store. Contact them immediately to get this problem fixed as soon as possible. It would also be advantageous for you to insulate your exterior pipes too. If the temperature drops, these pipes can freeze and crack, which again can cause leaking. So fit these pipes with insulation wrapping to protect them all year round.
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Trim back tree branches
Trees are beautiful essentials that we need to survive. But they can be hazardous to our homes too. If you have any tree branches that are hanging over your property or nearby electrical wires, they need to be trimmed back. Storms can cause unsteady trees to topple over. Freezing temperatures also produce ice which can add additional weight onto the branches. Both instances could be incredibly dangerous not only to your home but to your family too. So it’s crucial that you trim them back to reduce the risk of this happening. It’s always wise to get a professional to do this kind of work to avoid an unnecessary accidents. You can find tree cutting services on www.usatreeservicepros.net/ or by searching on Google. Not only will this give you peace of mind but it will also improve the look of the trees too.
Add window treatments
Window treatments are valuable home accessories that you need to have in your home. The most common of these being blinds, drapes and curtains. Not only do they add style to your property, but they can also save you money on your energy bills. They can keep you cool in the summer but blocking the sun’s heat. Whereas in the winter they keep more heat inside and help to get rid of draughts. Go round every room in your home and ensure your current window treatments are not ripped, old or have holes in. These may seem like minor problems but they could become worse and cost you more overtime. Repair these holes yourself by sewing them shut or by adding tape and fabric. Or buy some new blinds and curtains from www.homedepot.com/ or www.ikea.com. This will ensure that no matter what the weather is like, you’ll feel comfortable in any room.
Now you know what you have to do, there’s no reason why your house can’t be protected from the unpredictable weather. If you make the necessary home improvements and changes to your home it could also increase in value and be more appealing to potential buyers. So it’s a job well worth doing.
