Brace Yourself, Winter Is Coming

9/25/2015 (Permalink)

You don’t have to be a Game of Thrones fan to know that winters these days are wild. When colder months roll around, the only thing that’s certain is that the weather will be unpredictable. Whether it’s ice storms across the North East, or flash floods throughout the South West, being prepared is the best defense.

Check these nine home projects to weatherproof your place and make sure you have a cozy winter.

1. Get a winter-ready roof. A leaking roof makes for a messy, expensive, winter. Inside the house, dark ceiling stains or sagging spots mean a roof repair is in order. Outside, confirm shingles have no signs of splitting, disintegration, or looseness. If your roof is tricky to access—or you have tile shingles—hire a specialist to do the inspection. It’s not worth the broken bones or broken tiles!

2. Clean those gutters. You could break out the ladders and gloves, root around in old wet leaves… or do yourself a favor and hire someone who specializes in gutters to handle this arduous task for you. A professional will safely reach the roof, clear out the muck, and look for signs of wear and tear that might need repair.

3. Tuck up your trees. If winter storms are bad, unwieldy trees can do serious damage to homes, vehicles—even people. Call in a tree trimming service to give an assessment of your yard and tree safety. Southeastern cities such as Miami,Houston, and New Orleans benefit from trim trees during hurricane season as well.

4. Tune up your heat source – and save money on heating bills. Have a fireplace or heater? Get it ready for winter. Buildup in a fireplace is a serious fire hazard. Call in an expert to take care of black dust or residue. For heaters, call for a routine maintenance check before the freezing temps hit.

5. Winterize your windows and doors. Apply weather stripping around doors to seal in heat and keep out cold. Use caulk to seal windows in tight and keep out icy winds. Even cities with moderate winter climates like Los Angeles benefit from these quick fixes. Best of all, it’s a cheap energy saver!

6. Schedule your holiday lighting installation. Winter prep is not all chores! Decorating is a fabulous project to look forward to. Think big this year with a gorgeous light display that’ll have all the neighbors jealous. Give Chicago’s Magnificent Mile Lights Festival a run for their money.

7. Winterize the yard. Bring in small plants that can’t survive a freeze like the ones that strike Dallas each winter. For cities that deep freeze, like Chicago and Boston, turn off outdoor watering systems to avoid bursting pipes. Regardless of location, every yard benefits when you load up the truck—or hire someone to do the dirty work for you—and haul away dead bushes, old leaves, and yard waste. When rotting debris stays on the lawn all winter, expect brown spots and blight come spring.

8. Prep the pool. Love the summertime fun of playing in the pool? Make sure it gets the winterizing treatment before snows and freezing temperatures hit. Cities like Newark that enjoy both hot and cold temperatures can call in a pool specialist or winterize themselves to make sure the pool survives the winter.

9. Finish your to-do list. Getting winter ready is a great excuse to fix a leaky faucet, repair the creaking washing machine, and replace the springs on the garage door. Everything is more manageable when the weather is warmer. Either get out the toolbox or hire a handyperson—all you’ll have to worry about when the temperature drops is which movie to watch.