Winter’s just a few weeks away! With all the tasks the holiday season brings on, it’s easy to forget about maintaining your home in the process. Haven’t thought about prepping your home for winter? Don’t fret! We’ve highlighted a few issues you should be gearing up for this winter. It’s not too late to do a bit of work to make sure your home can withstand the cold winter to come.
1. Scan roof for damage
Before your roof is adorned with snow, it’s a good time to scan it for damaged shingles. You may find shingle debris hiding in your yard or even at your gutter downspouts. Check around your home’s chimney for loose materials, cracks and other signs of deterioration. Check your attic might indicate signs of sagging roof spaces, water damage, leaks, rot, and holes. For a professional opinion, call Aspen and schedule a free inspection. Our professionals can provide you with detailed information regarding the severity of your roof damage and give you an estimate on repairs.
2. Check your fireplace & chimney
It’s important to clean your fireplace before you plan on using it. Cleaning your chimney improves the quality of air in your home. This can be especially helpful if your family deals with allergy and sinus issues. Call a professional out to scan your chimney’s sealing and insulation. Getting these repaired can save your energy bill tremendously. If you have a gas fireplace, inspect the glass doors for cracks or latch issues. Check your igniter by turning your gas off at the shut-off valve. Clear clogged burner holes with a pin or needle.
3. Beware of ice dams
Icicles are fun to look at, but they’re a nightmare for your roofing and gutters. Ice dams form along roof eaves when melted snow refreezes. When dams become big enough, melted water collects behind them and seeps into shingles, insulation, exterior walls and sheet rock. If the dam breaks off, it can pull shingles and gutters off. To remove ice dams, break them off in small pieces with a mallet. You can also use a calcium chloride ice melter to melt trenches of ice dams. Indoors, be sure to seal air leaks below roof sheathing and make sure your space is well-insulated. If the dam is too big to tackle, call a professional to avoid damaging your roof.
4. Clean those gutters
Your downspouts will eventually clog up when leaves and debris pile up in your gutter system. Rain water will cause your gutters to overflow, which will damage your roof, trim and siding. You don’t want that! This issue can easily be avoided with regular gutter cleaning throughout the fall. Once the trees in your yard are bare, be sure to do a thorough cleaning to last through the snowy season.
5. Check for air leaks
Make sure your doors and windows are weather-tight and waterproof. Look for peeled paint and loose caulking around your window frames and trim. On the exterior, check for gaps between your frames and siding. Perform a smoke test by holding lit incense close to the edges of your windows and doors. If the smoke waivers and is drawn inward, then you can assume there is a leak in that area. There are tons of sealant options out there, such as self-adhesive foam, caulk, clear plastic window film and draft snakes.