If you want to alleviate your concerns about problems arising during the cold and snowy season, preparing your home for winter is crucial. By taking care of the issues you notice with your house ahead of the winter and preparing it to face such conditions, you can cover your bases. At the same time, the weather will be more manageable, ultimately saving you time, money, and energy later on.
For instance, one of the most significant reasons for winterizing your home is to prevent your pipes from freezing, as this can cause extensive damage if they burst—a problem you never want to be faced with.
Although a big part of winterizing your home involves finding ways to prevent winter repairs and boost its energy efficiency, you must also put in the work to create a comfortable living space for the foreseeable future.
After all, it is important to live in a cozier and more comfortable environment while you are shut in for a good few months. For all of these reasons, it is critical to properly winterize your home before the winter creeps up on you.
Best Tips and Tricks for Winterizing Your Home
When it comes to winterizing your residence, there are many different things you can do to get it ready. The best approach often involves combining various practices and procedures so that you can gain the most out of them once the temperature starts to plummet and the snow begins. These practices include the following:
1. Inspect your home for cracks and leaks
One of the first steps to take as you winterize it is to conduct a thorough inspection, both inside and out, for any cracks or leaks. Focus on areas such as window sills, the foundation, stucco surfaces, window locks, and entryways.
If you spot any cracks or leaks, seal them using suitable materials. Although caulking works best in warmer indoor conditions, there are other durable options available for outdoor application.
Additionally, if you notice that any of your doors or windows do not form a complete seal when closed, apply weatherstripping to them to prevent cold drafts from getting in.
2. Insulate your attic
Another smart way to enhance your home’s energy efficiency is to insulate your attic, especially if you live in an older house.
To avoid the buildup of moisture and mould, ensure your attic is properly ventilated and, when adding new insulation, choose a type that will not act as a vapour barrier. If you are uncertain about the best kind of insulation to use, consult with an expert at your local home improvement store.
3. Inspect and clean your furnace
Before the cold weather starts, it is crucial to call in a professional to have your furnace properly inspected and cleaned. Typical inspection and maintenance costs range from $150 to $200, but this will definitely pay off in the long run.
During the inspection, a technician will ensure the vents are properly sealed and clean out dust and debris from your HVAC system, ensuring that your furnace operates efficiently and reliably throughout the winter.
4. Install window coverings
Enhancing your windows with additional coverings can greatly minimize heat loss and consequently boost your home’s energy efficiency, thus lowering your heat bills. For an economical solution, use plastic insulation kits. Or, if you would prefer something more visually appealing, there are usually such options available at local hardware stores.
One quirky yet effective method that may look odd but works quite well is applying bubble wrap to your windows.
5. Clear your gutters and eavestroughs
To ensure proper drainage and avoid blockages caused by ice, it is essential to clear out your gutters and eavestroughs before winter. To remove any debris you find, you can simply use a spatula or broom, then rinse out any remaining residue with a hose.
Keeping your gutters clean will help direct melting snow away from your house’s foundation, preventing pooling that could lead to freeze-related damage.
6. Drain outdoor water lines
Before winter hits, make sure you drain the water from any outdoor faucets, hoses, and air conditioning units. If water gets left in any of these water lines, it will freeze and could lead to cracking. In addition, you should store any outdoor pumps in a warm place to protect them from the cold.
7. Deep clean your entire house
Finally, you cannot fully winterize your home without ensuring it gets a deep clean. You will want to live in a clean environment during all those winter months when you are stuck inside for most of the day.
So, whether you enlist the services of a cleaning company in Toronto or take on the job yourself, ensure that everything gets cleaned from top to bottom. That means cleaning both the tops and bottoms of your furniture to ensure that all the accumulated dust is removed.
In addition, you cannot forget those out-of-sight spots, like the tops of cabinets, doors, and baseboards. Cleaning these areas is key to maintaining a fresh and healthy home environment throughout the winter.
How Now It’s Clean Can Help You Winterize Your Home With a Thorough Clean
If you already have enough on your hands when winterizing your home and would prefer skilled professionals handling the cleaning part, Now It’s Clean is a reliable cleaning company in Toronto that can help out in that regard.
Thanks to our team of highly-trained professional cleaners who are equipped with industry-leading cleaning equipment, your home is guaranteed to be spotless in no time. Our deep cleaning services come at unbeatable prices with no hidden fees, and the quality of our cleaning will leave you impressed every time.
In fact, we are so confident in the superior quality of our cleaning services, that if you notice anything was missed, we will come right back to address it at no extra charge the very next day. As a family-owned cleaning company in Toronto, we are totally committed to customer satisfaction and will do whatever it takes to earn it.
For more information about our comprehensive house cleaning services, or to book an appointment to have your house cleaned before winter arrives, call Now It’s Clean at (647) 558-0707 or contact us here.