The holidays are stressful enough without worrying about a tree falling on your house or a pipe bursting. Failing to prepare for winter can cost you a pretty penny and ruin your cheer.
Stay safe and cozy all season with these cold-weather home hacks:
Cover Exposed Pipes
Insulating exposed pipes is one of the most important things you can do to winterize your home. Outdoor and uninsulated indoor pipes can freeze and burst in cold temperatures.
This can be a recipe for disaster, causing significant and costly water damage. Insulating your pipes against cold weather is as easy as covering them with a foam sleeve.
Program Your Thermostat
A programmable thermostat can make a world of difference in winter home maintenance. These handy thermostats let you set a specific temperature range for your home.
You can adjust the thermostat according to the time of year and throughout the day, preventing temperatures from getting too low. Aim to keep your home at or above 55 degrees Fahrenheit to combat frozen pipes.
Leave Water Flowing Overnight
Many homeowners’ worst nightmares involve burst pipes. To avoid the potential stress, leave a faucet running overnight when temperatures drop below freezing. It doesn’t have to be flowing—a steady drip is enough to keep water flowing through the pipes so ice doesn’t accumulate.
Weatherstrip Doors and Windows
Fixing a pesky cold air draft is much simpler than you think. Weatherstripping your doors and windows will stop hot air from escaping through small cracks and leaks. The material creates a barrier that blocks the cold while locking in heat, saving you money and keeping you warm.
Insulate Properly
It’s worth checking your insulation when winter rolls around. Your home needs the appropriate amount for many reasons, like maintaining comfortable temperatures, preventing heat loss, and protecting your roof. You might need to add more if the insulation appears lower than the floor joists.
Clean Gutters
Don’t overlook your gutters during the winter. Clogged gutters make it difficult for snow to drain properly from your roof.
Melted snow trapped in the gutters can eventually refreeze, potentially damaging your roof. Be sure to clean your gutters of debris before the next snowstorm hits.
Close Garage Doors
Shut your garage doors to keep your home warm and cozy all winter. Leaving them open can drastically drive up your heating costs.
Cold air from the garage forces your home to work overtime to compensate for the temperature difference. Keep your garage doors closed and watch your heating bill drop.
Get Your Chimney Cleaned and Inspected
Before roasting chestnuts over an open fire, schedule an appointment with a professional chimney sweep. You don’t want to start a fire only to realize the chimney is damaged or debris-clogged and the damper doesn’t work. Leave it to the professionals to inspect and clean your chimney, minimizing fire hazards.
Trim Tree Branches
Winter is the perfect time to prune that old tree in your yard. A heavy blanket of snow can easily break branches or knock down a dead tree. Trim any trees in danger of hitting your home to protect your roof from potential damage.
Prepare an Emergency Kit
The last thing you want this winter is to get caught unprepared and left scrambling for essentials in an urgent situation. Preparing an emergency kit in advance can prevent many headaches. Include necessities such as non-perishable foods, water, blankets, matches, and anything else you might need to grab and go or hunker down.
Drain Hoses and Sprinkler Systems
Draining your hoses and sprinkler systems can save money and frustration. Forgetting to do so can cause them to freeze and expand. When you try to reuse them in the spring, this could result in leaks or flooding.
Open Your Sink Cabinets
Open the cabinet doors under the sinks throughout your home to prevent frozen pipes in winter. When these cabinets are closed, they trap the pipes in cold air. Leaving the doors open allows warm air to circulate, keeping them above freezing temperatures.
Locate the Main Water Shutoff Valve
Knowing the location of your main water shutoff valve is crucial if you face a burst pipe disaster. This valve controls water throughout the home, letting you cut the supply in an emergency. If one of your pipes bursts, use the valve to turn off the water and stop potential flooding.
Stop overspending on energy costs
Getting your home winter-ready can significantly reduce costs. Watch your bills drop as you prepare your home for the cold.
How to Winterize Your Home to Save on Energy Costs
Keep your car in tip-top shape this winter
Ice, snow, and freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on your car. Learn what not to do in cold weather to head into the season prepared.
12 Common Cold-Weather Car Mistakes You’re Probably Making
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
