Sweater weather is quickly arriving! While we love the relief of summer temperatures dropping, it won’t be long until winter arrives. For the intolerably cold months, you’ll need to prepare your home for winter to minimize the risk of winter storm damage. We have some Fall home maintenance tasks that will help keep your house cozy and your energy bills at bay.
1. Have Your Roof Inspected
Take advantage of our FREE roof inspections!
It gets COLD in Cincinnati, OH, and roof damage will only worsen in frigid temperatures. Melting snow and ice leaking inside will make you wish you had patched up that loose shingle before it was too cold. Make sure you check your flashing seals around your chimney and vent stacks. If you are weary about getting up on the roof, hire a professional. They will help you identify any issues and carry out the required fixes. Avsten Construction does roof inspections for free!
Minor repairs might only be a little over $200, but avoiding those minor repairs could add up to a complete roof replacement. If you don’t repair the damage to your roof, it will only get worse when the winter weather arrives. Snow and ice can cause even more damage, so fixing any problems is essential.
2. Keep the Gutters Clean
If you are a homeowner, you are eventually bound to hear about ice dams. Ice dams occur when ice builds up on the eaves of your roof. Clean gutters allow melting ice to run naturally down, but when clogged with leaves, twigs, and other debris, it doesn’t have anywhere to go; it will freeze again along the eaves. Ice dams will keep the melted snow from draining off. It can back up and leak inside, causing water damage. Gutters cannot do their job correctly when they become clogged, which can cause several problems such as:
- roof leaks
- ice dams
- foundation damage
- gutters more likely to fall off your house during a storm
Tree limbs can also cause much damage if they fall on your home, but they can also block your gutters and downspouts, leading to ice dams. Make sure that any trees in close vicinity to your home are trimmed back, along with any dead limbs, before winter begins.
This fall home maintenace task will have you cleaning your gutters out all fall, because the leaves will just keep falling. But we have an easier solution! Avsten Construction offers Gutter Guard installation. Upgrading with these could make the difference in never having to clean them out again!
3. Insulate Your Attic or Crawl Space
While insulating your attic may require an upfront investment, it will save you money in the long run in multiple ways. Proper insulation keeps heat from escaping into the attic, maintaining warmth in your living spaces where it’s needed most. This also helps keep your attic cooler, reducing the risk of damaging ice dams forming on your roof. Here’s how attic insulation benefits you:
- Lower energy bills by reducing heat loss in the winter and keeping your home cooler in the summer.
- Increased home comfort as temperatures remain more stable and consistent throughout the year.
- Reduced risk of ice dams, which can cause roof damage and expensive repairs.
- Long-term energy efficiency, boosting the overall value and sustainability of your home.
Avsten Construction provides and installs attic insulation for residential and commercial properties. Whether you are under new construction or weatherizing your existing properties, Avsten is the attic insulation contractor to call.
4. Don’t Forget to Turn off Exterior Faucets
This is a very important fall home maintenance task that if forgotten could really be catastrophic. Any remaining water in your exterior faucets could freeze and cause pipes to burst! Disconnect, dry out, and store away all water hoses as well. You can winterize water pipes by locating your hose bib shut-off valve, which may be in a basement or crawl space, and turning it off at the source. Ice is not kind to areas not made for it. If you have a lawn-irrigation system, make sure that it is well-drained. You should contact a professional to ensure proper draining of the spigots.
5. Prepare Your Fireplace and Chimney
Before you fire up the hearth, you’ll want to ensure your vents are clean and in good condition. When was the last time you had your chimney inspected?
- Knowing whether there is an obstruction, such as a bird’s nest, in your chimney before lighting your first fire this fall is essential.
- One of the reasons chimney fires are so dangerous is that they often go undetected until it’s too late.
- A chimney fire can start small but quickly spread to the rest of your home. By the time you realize there’s a problem, the damage may have already been done. That’s because the fire travels behind your walls.
You should also make sure that carbon monoxide isn’t leaking out undetected. A fire in your chimney can release harmful gases like carbon monoxide into your home, which can be incredibly dangerous, especially if you’re asleep and don’t realize there’s a problem.
Call a professional Chimney Sweep for this job. To keep the warm air inside your home, don’t forget to close your dampener when burning actual wood.
6. Change your roofing style
Several roofing styles are more resistant to damage from ice and snow. Metal roofs and rubber roofs are a couple of different options because they can tolerate a lot of weight without collapsing.
The cost of changing your roof will vary depending on the type of roof you choose. Metal roofs and rubber roofs are more expensive than asphalt roofs, but they’re also more durable and less likely to be damaged by winter weather. You might consider changing to a different roofing style if you have an asphalt roof. Asphalt roofs are prone to damage from ice and snow, so they may not be the best option for areas that experience harsh winters.
We realize this fall home maintenance task is not a small one. Changing your roof is a big decision, and it’s one that you should make carefully. However, it might be the best way to protect your home from damage if you live in an area with harsh winters. If you’re unsure which roofing style is right for you, it’s a good idea to talk to a roofing contractor. They’ll be able to assess your needs and recommend the best option for your home.
7. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans Direction
Some might say this is an odd or silly tip, but it might save you a few degrees on the thermostat. Use ceiling fans to reverse the airflow in your home. During summer, you want air blowing downward for a cooling effect, but if you switch the direction of your fans in the winter, it will have the opposite effect. Hot air rises and collects near the ceiling, so bring it down where people gather to keep your home warm and comfortable during cooler months.
Most ceiling fans have a reverse switch. Make sure it is running clockwise after your heat is running. The fan should push down heated air from above by producing an updraft. This tip works exceptionally well in rooms with high ceilings, so even better if you have high ceilings in your home!
Bottom Line for Fall Home Maintenance
Homeowning is almost like having another job. Tackling this and other fall home maintenance tasks is something you must do to keep your investment well maintained. No matter what sort of cold-weather climate you live in, a few home maintenance chores can go a long way to helping protect your home from the elements. Ease into cool weather with projects that will keep your house feeling cheery and comfortable through the cold season. If you’re forgetful about tasks, keep a calendar handy with all of your maintenance duties listed. Some jobs may take longer than others, but if you set them apart, they might not seem so taxing.
Avsten Construction in Cincinnati, Ohio, is here for you whenever you need to help prepare your home for winter! We’ll help you get your roof, gutters, windows, and more secure for winter temperatures, keeping your energy bills and house in great shape! Contact us today, and let’s prepare your home for winter!
