subject: Essential Maintenance Jobs On Your Home Before Winter [print this page] Winter is fast approaching, and time is running out to complete those essential maintenance jobs that will help ensure your home remains cosy and warm, and most importantly weatherproof throughout the colder months. Your basic checklist should include the following:
- Make sure all the gutters are clean and don't have any pine needles, old leaves or moss in them.
- Check all the gutters are firmly attached to the property and that none are hanging down or have come loose.
- Consider installing gutter covers such as those produced by Gutter Helmet to protect them from clogging up with debris in the future.
- Replace any worn out or broken gutters. Modern gutters such as those fitted by ABC Seamless are often more efficient than older designs.
- Check all windows are watertight, and that all the seals are intact. If you have leaky or old windows it could be a good idea to get them replaced by qualified window installers before the worst of the winter weather sets in. Good quality replacement windows produced by reputable firms such as Renewable by Anderson could significantly reduce heat loss, cutting energy bills.
- Carry out any general home repairs to the exterior of the building, and check that all storm doors are secure. If any doors are leaking or do not fit, then the fall is an excellent time to replace them with properly fitting, secure doors that will improve the security of the property, and which will probably reduce the loss of heat.
- Consider replacing any old or worn out insulation, especially attic insulation. Your home loses much of its heat through the roof, and attic insulation is definitely worth the money. Attic insulation is one of those home improvements that is relatively easy to do. Insulation can be purchased in a roll, or it's possible to buy cellulose insulation that is blown into the attic. One thing to remember is to be sure not to cover up any vents, or to take the insulation too close to any sources of heat such as a flue or chimney, or any recessed lights.
- Check the state of your roof, and if necessary get the roofing cleaned and inspected by a firm of specialist home contractors. Steel roofing is a popular choice of material, but it does need replacing periodically. Leaving a roof to leak over the winter could end up being a costly endeavour as it will allow damp to penetrate the interior of the home, ruining decoration and potentially damaging the structure of the property.
Although a lot of these home repair jobs can easily be completed by any competent homeowner, there are still some things that are best left to expert home contractors who are properly qualified and who have the correct insurance and training to ensure such jobs are carried out safely and efficiently. Window installers are a particularly good example, as a poorly fitted window could compromise the security of the home, and could allow damp to penetrate the property. Ultimately it could cost a lot more to put right. As the nights draw in there is little better than knowing your home is secure, more energy efficient, and as well protected against winter as possible.
