The fall and winter months can be the most beautiful times of the year. Beautiful leaves changing colors, a chill in the air, and everyone is getting cozy at home. But this also means that you need to prepare your house for winter!
If you are a Newton resident, here are some tips on how to get your home ready for the winter. Before we continue, find more information about winter storm information in Newton, MA.
1. Inspect your roofs
Starting from the top to the bottom, we have our precious roof. And after all, as homeowners, we need to first think about areas of our homes that could send us out of our homes.
Inspect for damage
Check your roof for any signs of damage, including missing shingles, loose shingles, or torn sheet metal. Small issues found now, can save you thousands of dollars.
Look for leaks and water damage
If you find any leaks on the inside of your home that were caused by a damaged roof on rain falls, imagine what it will become in the winter! Contact an expert to repair them as soon as possible before they cause more serious problems.
Check the flashing around chimneys and skylights
Flashings are pieces of material that go around chimney stacks or over skylights to help prevent water from entering them; make sure they’re in good condition so that no water can get inside these openings!
2. Protect your chimney
The chimney is one spot in the house that tends to get neglected. Not only does it need to be cleaned regularly, but you should also make sure it’s in good shape for winter.
You’ll want to check for cracks and leaks, especially around the mortar joints where two stones meet. Look at the cap as well, if a stone has fallen out from under it, you may have a problem with water getting into your chimney.
The chimney itself should also be inspected for damage caused by freezing temperatures and other weather phenomena. If there are any cracks or holes that allow wind or cold drafts into the space between bricks or stones in your fireplace wall, they should be repaired immediately before they become worse over time.
3. Prepare your fireplace
Check your chimney for any cracks or holes.
Make sure your chimney is clean.
Make sure your fireplace damper is in good working order and can be easily moved at all times, including when you’re using it to heat the room so that no smoke can escape.
Make sure your fireplace is clean inside and out. If there are cobwebs or dust buildup, use a vacuum cleaner attachment to remove them before they can pose a fire hazard during the winter months when they won’t get blown away by the wind but will instead sit in one place until dusted off by a homeowner before being used again, which may never happen if you’re busy with other things!
Ensure that all loose bits of debris around the bottom of any wood-burning appliance (including stoves) are removed so as not to catch fire during usage; this includes ashes from last year’s fires as well as any fallen leaves or tree branches from outside which might otherwise cause trouble if left behind after cleaning time has already passed over them once more since then…
4. Check your gutters
The trick, but no secret with gutters is to control them (before they get out of control) on average temperature before it’s frozen and super expensive for maintenance.
Cleaning the gutters is an important step in preparing your home for winter because they collect leaves and debris which will clog up the downspouts. Check to make sure there are no clogs or obstructions from trash or rocks that could cause water damage to your house.
If you have a steep roof, consider hiring a professional gutter cleaning and repair company in Newton, MA to remove any large debris that may be blocking your gutters. You should also have removed any dead plants and flowers that could fall into the gutter as well as any hanging tree branches near it.
Again, on average high temperature, gutter cleaning, and maintenance prices usually go up in consideration of the MA weather. Especially in bigger cities such as Newton, so make sure to get a reasonable cost for your gutter cleaning.
5. Inspect your driveway & walkways
Before you hit the road with your car, scooter, or bicycle, make sure that your driveway and walkways are in good shape. Inspect them for cracks, potholes, and loose stones that might keep you and your family safer.
Make sure the surface is even so that you don’t get a flat tire on one end while riding on the other side of town. Look for signs of damage like chipped paint or graffiti if there’s a possibility that someone has been using your driveway as a bathroom (which happens quite often).
Finally, take note of any wear on the asphalt if you have any pets walking around outside as well, you’ll want to make sure they aren’t digging up holes with their claws!
6. Check the basement and sump pump
A sump pump is a crucial part of your basement and home’s drainage system. These pumps are designed to remove water that flows down through the walls and floors of your house during heavy rain or snow melt.
If your home has a sump pump, it should be checked regularly to make sure it is working properly and in good condition. A properly working sump pump should not need repairs or replacements often, but they can become damaged over time due to exposure to various conditions like flooding or freezing temperatures.
The best way to check whether your home’s sump pump is doing its job correctly is by inspecting how much water it has removed from the basement area since the last time you checked it (you should do this at least once a year).
This can be done by checking how high the reservoir level has risen since the last time you checked—the higher up this level goes, the more water must have entered your basement due to some sort of leak somewhere inside or outside of your home!
7. Winterize your sprinklers, faucets, pipes & hoses
Sprinklers, faucets, pipes, and hoses with water will freeze in the winter. For that reason, you should make sure to winterize (make ready for winter) while we have a low temperature.
Winterize your irrigation system, fountains, ponds, waterfalls, and other outdoor water features that may have been left on during the summer months to keep them from freezing.
8. Winter-proof your doors and windows
Before the cold weather sets in, it’s important to winter-proof your doors and windows. The best way to do this is by making sure they’re all closed and locked, and then checking for drafts around them. If you have storm windows, make sure they’re in good condition as well.
Checking your window screens is also a must before winter comes along. Not only do they keep insects out while keeping the heat in, but if you don’t have them on properly then air can get through resulting in energy loss throughout the year. Finally, check that all of your window panes are secure—you don’t want any panes falling out during a storm or strong wind!
While these few checks may seem small at first glance (and many people think “why bother?”), when combined with other home maintenance tasks such as cleaning gutters or replacing old water pipes (which can burst from freezing temperatures) could save you from expensive emergency repairs come springtime.”
9. Check the pipes
You may think that you have a handle on your plumbing and heating system, but during the winter months, it’s important to check your pipes for leaks and clogs. Here are some things to look for when reviewing your home’s pipes:
Leaks. Check all of the faucets in your house—both indoors and out—for drips or leaks that could indicate problems with either the valve or surrounding piping (or both). If you find one, call a plumber immediately; don’t try to fix it yourself, as this could lead to even bigger issues down the road.
Loose connections. Look at both ends of any exposed pipe for signs that it might not be properly connected; if you see something loose such as a stud or nut with no washers/gaskets holding them together securely then this is cause for concern! It may seem like an innocent error on its own but over time those little wiggle jobs can grow into much larger problems like frozen pipes during cold weather so make sure everything is snugly fastened securely before calling it quits on checking out all potential areas where water could leak through cracks between pieces not being held together properly by nuts/bolts/washers etcetera
Frozen pipes – Make sure none of these are leaking before turning up temperature settings on thermostat systems since heat will cause everything inside walls & ceilings around hot water lines near sinks bathrooms kitchens etcetera which run next door to neighbors houses apartments condos townhouses condominiums condos business offices buildings houses apartments hotels motels rooms condos townhouses condominiums apartment complexes office buildings offices hotels motels rooms motels
10. Start planning for snow removal
Snow removal is a tricky thing to plan for and prepare for, especially in Newton. If you live on a street where there are multiple driveways, this can be really expensive if you don’t have the equipment to do it yourself, or won’t share with neighbors.
The best way to deal with snow removal is to hire an insured company that will come out and takes care of everything for you. They’ll plow your driveway and clear snow from your walkway from time to time as well.
This will save you money in the long run because having an experienced team of snow management professionals, will take less time and risk them keeping this awful routine by themselves!
Search for roof snow removal companies
Another important task on your snow and ice management list is to find roof snow removal companies when you’re not in an emergency. Emergency equals expensive!
In previous years, during several snowfalls, many homeowners were not able to find local companies in Newton for roof snow removal, which caused them to get higher prices, and even trick companies, believe it or not, weren’t even insured.
Make sure all is well before winter comes
The season’s turning, and the chill is in the air. Before it gets too cold to go out, now’s a good time to make sure your house is ready for winter, after all, you don’t want a late-season snowstorm blowing through and breaking down your roof or flooding your basement. Here is a checklist of what we talked about:
Roof
Gutters
Chimney (make sure there’s no buildup of snow overhanging it)
Prepare fireplace
Driveway/walkways
Basement and sump pump
Winterize your sprinklers, faucets, pipes & hoses
Winter-proof your doors and windows
Check the pipes
Planning for snow removal
Conclusion
It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it. You’ll have peace of mind that all your important systems are ready for the season ahead and will be able to keep functioning throughout the winter months.
And as a gutter cleaning service company, we couldn’t go without saying… take care of your gutters, and you will avoid damages on your property!
Save this time in your calendar year to enjoy snowfalls, and not get terrified by not being ready. We from Hands on Gutters wish all a safe and fun winter!
