Have a Question? Ask Kendra!
I'm here to help! Fill out the form below and I'll be in touch to help with your new home search.
As winter brings a chill, it is important to prepare your new home for the colder months. There are a few quick and easy tasks that every homeowner can do to protect their home during the winter months. We have provided 8 to get you started!
With freezing temperatures on the way, ensuring that hoses are disconnected and put away is essential for your exterior plumbing. Additionally, you can further insulate and protect from the cold with specialized covers. These can be found at most local hardware stores!
Outside of your daily drive, keeping a tight seal on your garage can help keep warm air inside of your home.
In extreme cold, your furnace can help keep your home more than warm, it can keep it safe. Keep the heat above 65 degrees to avoid damage.
Changing your furnace filter monthly is a step to take year-round, but taking extra care in the fall can help the long-term health of your system. A dirty air filter is the most common cause of furnace malfunction or failure, especially in the winter. Your filter must be changed prior to turning on your furnace for the winter.
This tip is also for extreme weather events. When a cold front chills the area keeping cabinet doors with pipes open can keep the water warm enough to avoid a freeze. Additionally, running water is less likely to freeze than stagnant water. So consider leaving a drip to keep your water flowing.
Your furnace should be looked at, maintained, and cleaned by a professional once per year. While you can take this step on your own, we recommend hiring a professional!
Did you know that your exterior door thresholds are adjustable? By adjusting your thresholds to create a tight seal you can eliminate drafts from exterior doors. To adjust the thresholds, remove the round plastic screw covers at the top of the threshold with a flathead screwdriver, then loosen or tighten the exposed screws to raise or lower the threshold for a tight seal along the bottom of the door.
While it may be tempting, using rock salt on concrete surfaces for the first 3 years can take a toll. Concrete can take up to 3 years to fully cure, meaning that rock salt can cause spalling and pitting of your concrete.
For spaces that don't have as much direct heat from your central system, a space heater can help. Be sure to follow safety guidelines when running your space heater.
Just as we bundle up and wear layers in the colder months, your home needs a little extra care too! Be sure to take care of your home so that it can take care of your family for years to come!