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5 Things to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Winter is officially here, and if you haven’t prepared your home, you could be looking at a long winter. Just like you have different needs when the seasons change, so does your house. Your house needs to be prepared for harsh winter conditions. Here are five things you can do to ensure that your home is ready for winter.

get your home readdy for winter

1. Paint, Caulk, and Seal Exterior Wood

All of the wood trim on your home’s exterior needs to be protected from the elements. Decks made out of wood usually are pressure-treated or rot-resistant; however, the wood trim around your exterior doors and windows is not. These trimmings are only one inch thick and will deteriorate quickly if they aren’t protected. For that reason, it’s important that you repaint, recaulk, and reseal your home’s exterior wood. Also, check on the condition of your deck, and if the wood is compromised, have it resealed.

 2. Clean the Gutters

If your gutters are filled with sticks, leaves, and other kinds of debris, it can cause them to back up, overflow, and speed up the deterioration of your home’s foundation. Gutters are there to redirect water from the roof and away from your home. This is an important responsibility, especially during the winter. Since it’s an important responsibility, make sure that your home’s gutters can do their job by cleaning them out before the winter. 

3. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Winter is the time most house fires happen. We’re in our homes more, lighting fires, and blasting the furnace. Additionally, most of us will keep our homes closed up tight, therefore making carbon monoxide a bigger threat. Be sure to test both your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors early this winter to ensure that you and your household are protected. 

4. Protect Your Pipes

Winter poses a risk for your plumbing. Unheated interior spaces like your garage, attic, and basement have the greatest risk for frozen pipes. Once your pipes freeze, it can lead to extensive plumbing damage that’s expensive to repair. Avoid this problem by installing pipe insulation liberally on any exposed pipes throughout your home. 

5. Clean Your Chimney

Before you huddle around the fireplace this year, have your chimney cleaned and inspected. Having your chimney inspected will ensure that your fireplace is safe to use, as well as identify any maintenance issues. During your inspection, your inspector will determine if there has been any buildup through the off-seasons and test your flue for a tight seal when it’s closed. 

Get Ready with Dragon Scale, Inc. 

Dragon Scale is here to help winterize your home. Our wide selection of home improvement, interior home services, and exterior home services will allow your home to be protected throughout the winter. Give us a call now at (301) 307-5792 to learn how we can help.