Winter is bearing down on us, especially in cold climates like experienced here in New Jersey. It’s not too late to prepare your house for winter, but you need to start now! 

You probably have started winterizing your home to some degree. But let’s take a look at the top 10 tips on safeguarding your home and keeping your family warm and protected this winter:

#1 – An energy audit will provide focus.

The point of winterizing your home is to ensure that your family is safe and secure inside. It is also meant to protect the house from the effects of harsh, cold weather. An energy audit will tell you where to focus your time, effort, and money. 

A professional audit is a worthwhile investment, but you can do many of the same things on your own as you learn how to prepare your home for winter. Check door seals, outlet covers, and light switches for spaces that need to be filled in.

#2 – Your home’s heating and AC system is next.

You don’t want to turn the heat on at the first chill in the air and have the system fail. Change the filters now. Call your local HVAC company and have them inspect the system and advise you of its ability to get you through the winter. 

#3 – Check your chimney.

After a fireplace has been used for a season, creosote builds up inside the chimney. This is a highly flammable substance so it needs to be cleaned out before the first fire of the season is started. You might want to hire a professional for this. It involves climbing up on the roof while using a ladder tall enough to get you up there. Most home experts recommend having someone else do it rather than risk a fall.

While the chimney sweep is up on your roof, go ahead and order your wood for the season!

#4 – Repair the exterior wood on your home.

Prevention is the key here. If the wood on the outside of your home is maintained properly, it won’t need to be replaced as often. The trim is usually only a 1-inch thick pine board that deteriorates quickly. By keeping it painted and caulked each year, it will stand up to the weather for a longer period of time. If you find sections where the paint is flaking away or the caulk is cracking, scrape away the old paint and caulking and repaint and replace both. Replace any damaged wood as soon as you can.

Decks are usually made of pressure-treated or rot-resistant wood. It won’t need to be resealed and painted every year but check it anyway. If water doesn’t bead up on the wood, it will need to be cleaned and resealed.

#5 – Check the masonry and hard surfaces, too.

Concrete or asphalt walkways, driveways, and patios need a concrete sealer periodically. If you haven’t been doing this regularly, do it this season. Concrete does crack after a while if it isn’t sealed. Fill in any cracks and then apply sealer. Make sure to repair cracks before you seal the space. This protects them for another year. 

#6 – Look at the gutters. 

Are they clogged with debris? If so, they can’t possibly do the job they are meant to do. Water has to go somewhere and when gutters are filled with leaves, the water overflows. That’s not good. It begins to flow down the outside of the house damaging the exterior surface and pooling near the foundation of the house. The foundation then begins to wear away as water infiltrates the basement and settles under the porch and walkways creating even more damage.

This is another job that is probably best left to professionals. Using a tall ladder to get to the guttering is a risky job. A gutter guard company, like us here at Valor Gutter Guards of New Jersey, is dedicated to making sure your gutters are protected from debris and doing the job they are designed to do. Maintaining and protecting your gutters is best left to us while you focus on another task that is closer to the ground!

#7 – Check the drainage around the foundation of the house.

The goal is to move water away from the foundation of the house. When water freezes it expands and can damage the foundation. So, look for low spots where water can settle. Fill in any spots like this with soil. Also, check the gutter downspouts for excess wear and replace them as needed.

#8 – Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

This is something that isn’t an “extra.” You are not protecting your family if you don’t have them. It’s that simple. 

Winter is full of fire and heat. The house is generally closed up, which means that carbon monoxide is a hazard. Make sure all detectors have fresh batteries. The HVAC inspection we discussed earlier in this article will make sure your furnace and water heater are vented properly; if they aren’t, carbon monoxide is a danger.

#9 – Don’t forget about the lawn and yard!

Many homeowners don’t know that a healthy spring lawn is started in the fall. Once the summer heat passes, your lawn can get some great growing time. Putting more grass seed down is done in September and early October and then fertilizer should be put down in late October and November. 

Also, trim tree branches away from the house. You don’t want ice-coated branches scraping against windows or siding. Check all the trees to cull out any dead trees before you get too far into fall. Ice is heavy and a dead tree can fall on your house or your neighbors from the extra weight.

#10 – Check your attic for pests.

Walk the perimeter of your house and check for holes in the soffit or fascia. These are entryways for squirrels and birds that cause damage in the attic, make noise, and are a health hazard. Also, check the gable vents. Put a screen over them to add a layer of protection against critters. 

Begin preparing your home for winter today! Our team here at Valor Gutter Guards of NJ can help ensure your gutters are covered, protecting both the fascia and foundation of your home. Contact us today!