Although certain parts of the Carolinas remain temperate year-round, many areas become cold and snowy during the winter months. If your region of North Carolina or South Carolina experiences chilly weather annually, it is important for you to know what to do to get your house ready for the cold. As you read on, you will find five key ways to prep your home for the winter season.
- Have your furnace looked at – During the spring and summer, you probably don’t give your furnace a second thought. Once a chill sets-in outside, though, you will definitely notice if your home’s heating unit isn’t working properly! Therefore, it’s a good idea to have your furnace inspected each year in the early autumn before you really need it. Ask your technician to change your air filter, too, if you haven’t already done so.
- Get your doors and windows ready – Take a day to check out all of the windows and doors in your house. First, make sure all weather stripping is in good shape and replace any pieces that are starting to peel or crack. Next, take off any screen doors and install better-insulated storm doors for wintertime. Finally, take note of any window panes that seem to be causing a draft; they may need to be replaced by professional installers for both comfort and energy efficiency.
- Schedule a gutter cleaning – If your home’s gutters are clogged, bent, or otherwise damaged, you are likely to experience problems over the course of the winter. The risk of ice dams causing serious problems with your roof, for instance, greatly increase if your gutter system isn’t functioning correctly. Although you can clean your gutters yourself, it is best to allow a professional to handle the job.
- Prepare your kitchen appliances – Many homeowners don’t think about winterizing their kitchen appliances, but it is a wise idea. Make sure any water lines that connect to exterior walls are properly insulated. This will significantly reduce the chances of them freezing during the coldest days of the year. Furthermore, clean your refrigerator, oven, and dishwasher to prepare for doing more cooking throughout the winter season.
- Set all ceiling fans to spin clockwise – When the weather is warm, your home’s ceiling fans should spin counter-clockwise. This sends cool air down into your room. When it gets cold, however, you should switch your fan blades to spin clockwise so warm air trapped near the ceiling will get sent downward. If you don’t know how to change the direction your fans spin, consult your owner’s manual.
If you are interested in any of the winterization projects detailed here but don’t want to handle them yourself, give the Hatch Homes team a call. We work throughout North Carolina and South Carolina, and our skilled crew would love to help you and your family get ready for winter this year. We believe wintertime has a lot to offer, but you are sure to enjoy it more if your house is as comfortable as possible all season long!