7 tips to prepare your home for the winter season

Gutterman Services wants to help you stay cozy and keep your heating bill low this winter season. Here are 7 tips to keep your house feeling delightful while the weather outside is frightful:

1) If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch, flip it so the fan’s blades operate in a clockwise direction. Since heat rises, the fan will produce an updraft and push the warm air down from the ceiling. This is especially helpful in rooms with high ceilings and it might even allow you to turn down your thermostat by a degree or two!

2) Did you notice a lot of icicles, or worse, ice dams, which can cause meltwater to back up and flow into your house last winter? Have Gutterman Service identify and fix any air leaks and/or inadequate insulation in your home’s attic that can lead to ice dams.

3) Caulk around your doors & windows. If there are any gaps larger than the width of a nickel, you should reapply exterior caulk as well. However, if your windows are over 15 years old and you can see daylight or feel a windy draft, you may want to consider installing new windows.

4) Once all the leaves have fallen, get your gutters cleaned. When snow melts, water can get back up to the house and cause damage to the roof, siding and trim. (Plus cause leaks and ice dams.)

5) Drain your pipes. Undrained water in pipes can freeze, which will cause pipes to burst as the ice expands. Start by disconnecting all garden hoses and draining the water that remains in faucets.

6) Test your sump pump. Slowly pour several gallons of water into the sump pit to see whether the pump turns on. You should do this every few months, but especially after a long dry season or before a rainy or wet one.

7) Consider having a snow retention system installed. A snow retention system is a series of guards that is placed on the roof which helps prevent the snow from sliding off. The idea is that the snow should thaw and evaporate naturally, rather than coming down all at once and crushing whatever is beneath it.

These simple tips will help keep your house safe & warm all season long! If your house is in need of any servicing to prepare for the winter weather, we welcome you to request an estimate by clicking here.