Winter home maintenance, while crucial, is something that many homeowners shove to the back of their mind and end up forgetting. You’ll often hear about Spring and Summer maintenance as homeowners are excited for the warming weather and ready to prep their homes for the coming summer fun, however, winter maintenance tasks are just as, if not more important.
Winter Home Maintenance
#1 Exterior Maintenance
Exterior maintenance is a crucial part of winter home maintenance, however when living in climates near the coast this is even more important. The amount of salt in the air from the coastal settings can often cause erosion and damage, meaning exterior home maintenance is vital in protecting your homes value and ensuring you don’t have to prematurely replace your siding, patios, and exterior features such as light fixtures that have corroded due to improper upkeep and cleaning.
Landscaping is another important part of exterior home maintenance as the winter months roll in. Check your landscaping for any trees that need to be pruned to avoid them from damage in the event of a storm and make sure to stay on top of raking leaves to avoid potential pest threats.
#2 Roof and Gutters
Your roof maintenance is arguably one of the most important winter home maintenance tasks to prioritize. While in some cases you may be able to inspect for damages on your own, hiring a professional roofer for annual maintenance could end up saving you from hefty repair bills in the future. Inspecting for any signs of wear and tear, damaged or missing shingles, or areas that seem to be sagging or bubbled are all leading signs of repairs that need to be handled immediately.
Much like with your roof, your gutters also must be inspected and cleaned as a part of your winter home maintenance tasks. Over the course of the year, especially during Fall or storms, it is common for leaves and debris to build up in your gutters leading to clogs. These clogs are often the starting point for an array of damages including potential leaks as well as water damage all of which can turn into larger issues that can lead to structural and roof damage. Make sure to clean your gutters as part of your winter maintenance to ensure they are ready for the coming rainfall and cool weather.
#3 Fireplace and Chimney
While North and South Carolina don’t see as much snow as other states, it definitely gets cold, with a few days of freezing temperatures, and the rare sprinkle of snow (last year we saw snow in the Outer Banks!) As the weather starts to cool, there is nothing better than curling up by the fireplace to warm up, however, before you light your first fire of the season, make sure to inspect and clean your fireplace and chimney. Hiring a professional chimney sweep is both important for your chimney’s upkeep as well as your safety. Over time creosote buildup and without properly cleaning this, you are creating the perfect breeding ground for a chimney fire. Another area of your fireplace and chimney that should be added to your winter home maintenance task list is ensuring your damper is in proper working order. If your damper isn’t working properly, instead of ventilating the smoke and fire accurately, you’ll find that you are actually letting cold air into your home.
#4 HVAC
There is nothing worse than going to turn the heater on for the first time of the season only to realize it’s broken. Make sure to have your HVAC services regularly to avoid any unexpected and last-minute repairs. Having your HVAC serviced twice a year is recommended, once during the winter, and once before summer. During this tune up you’ll often have the system cleaned, replace all air filters, and your technician will inspect the unit to see if there are any other repairs or problems that need to be addressed.
With proper winter home maintenance, you can ensure that your home is ready for the Holidays, entertaining friends and family, and ready to keep everyone cozy on cool winter days.