This year we endured a long, cold winter, then a sizzling summer that wouldn’t end. Now the pendulum is about to swing back to the frigid side, and winterizing your home is a priority.
Whether you’re preparing to sell your house, or you just want to make it more comfortable in cold weather, local professionals recommend you focus on the following projects.
Exterior
• From the outside, look at all your doors and windows to make sure the caulking is tight and there are no cracks around windows where the frame and molding meet the siding, says Steve Cranford, owner of the local House Doctors franchise, a professional handyman service.
• Check the weather-stripping around doors, making sure there is a tight seal when the door is closed.
• Adjust the hinges and latches on doors so that they close tightly.
• It’s advantageous to have a moisture barrier in your home’s crawlspace, Cranford says, to help stop moisture from coming up from the ground. “That helps not only in heating and cooling, but it helps stave off problems with mold and mildew,” he says. “If you see any standing water under the house or have any musty smells, that might be an indication of things to correct.”
• Make sure you clean your gutters before winter storms arrive. Falling leaves can clog gutters and cause multiple problems, Cranford says. And water can rot the fascia board covering the joint between the top of a wall and the projecting eaves, or back up into the attic or ceilings.
• Look at your roof. You’ll want to check to make sure it isn’t missing any shingles or that roofing nails aren’t pulled up. Make sure the metal flashing around the chimney and vents is sealed properly to prevent leaks. “Winter is hard on those things,” Cranford says. “They can crack and start to create problems.”
• If your windows are old, it might be time to consider updating them with something like Thermopane windows, which are hermetically sealed and double glazed.
• And if you have exposed piping, make sure it is drained and insulated.
Interior
• Check your home’s insulation, particularly in the attic and basement or crawlspace, making sure it is still intact and not falling down.
If you have blown-in insulation, check to see whether it has settled. “It may be time to add a little to hold in the heat,” Cranford says.
• Make sure your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is serviced and operating at peak efficiency. A programmable thermostat is always a good option. (And don’t forget the $1,500 federal government tax credit you’ll be eligible for if you switch to an energy-efficient furnace — or a number of other measures — in an existing home. But time is running out. According to energystar.gov, approved products needs to be placed in service by Dec. 31 to qualify for the credit.)
Curb appeal
If you’re preparing to sell your home this winter, curb appeal is paramount. Make sure the front of your home is clean by either power-washing or painting it, and stain the deck if it’s looking a little tired, says Jan Cox, a Realtor with Allen Tate Realtors. Clean all windows, and lay fresh pine straw or mulch around your plants to keep temperatures even around the root system.
“Mulch is a great way to freshen up a landscape,” says Karen Neill, extension agent for agriculture and urban horticulture with the Guilford County Cooperative Extension Service.
Other than mulching, there’s not too much you need to do to prepare outdoor plants for winter because “Mother Nature takes care of her own,” Neill says. Shorter and cooler days mean plants start to become dormant, and if you’ve picked the right plant for the right location, nature will take its course.
After several weeks of cold, you can prune evergreen shrubs such as boxwoods and hollies, but keep your shears away from plants that bloom in the spring, Neill says.
After you’ve completed the list you can sit back and relax — you’ll be ready for Old Man Winter’s annual visit.
