How Do I Winterize My Home?

November 28, 2023

Whether you are reading this post in spring or right before the first frost hits, it is always good to be prepared for when winter comes. Your home is your shelter, your place to live and thrive in safety and comfort. Follow this checklist to winterize your home and keep yourself warm and dry.

Checklist for Winterizing Your New Abode

Inspect and Protect Against Drafts

There are two major threats to every home during winter: drafts and water damage. Especially with older homes, you do not want to ignore cold air continually leaking into your home, as it means that warm air generated by your heating system is continually going out, making you lose a lot of energy and increasing your heating bills. In the summer, the reverse problem happens. Either way, it is quite uncomfortable and wastes a lot of energy. You will want to protect your home against all possible areas where your home could lose heat.

Inspect and Protect Against Water Damage

What about protecting your home against water damage? Water, like air, can creep into your home through many sneaky avenues. The most shocking form of water damage comes from pressurized air in frozen water pipes. The pressure can become so great that it results in a burst pipe and water shooting out of it. We’ll get into how to prevent that disaster below.

Check Structural Parts of Your Home

• The roof: Check for visible damage and lack of insulation in older homes. You will know the roof needs insulating on your older home if icicles hang from the eaves. 
• The windows: Windows tend to get leaky with age. Insulate with caulk and insulating curtains.
• The doors: Doors likewise leak air with age. Apply weather strips appropriately.
• The walls (interior and exterior): If you have porous exterior masonry or stonework, apply a coat of waterproofing sealer or paint as needed.
• The chimney: Take care of your chimney, inspecting it for outer damage and in older homes lack of insulation.
• Exposed water pipes: Winterize exposed irrigation pipes and hose bibs by blowing out water from the pipes. Newer homes will generally have frost-free type hose bibs and you will simply need to shut off the valves inside and drain the outside hose bib. With older home hose bibs you may need to do the same and in addition cover with specially designed protectors and wrap interior exposed plumbing pipes with an insulating material.
• Gutters and drains: Clear gutters and drains of debris, such as fall leaves, and address standing puddles in your yard, which could damage foundations, trees, etc.

Have Fun and Winterize the Interior

Lastly, remember to have fun and winterize your home for the season with comfortable furnishings and feasts. Spruce up the home for holiday cheer and have a cozy winter in your well-winterized home.

Let Ameri-Star Homes Build Your New Custom Home!

Ameri-Star Homes was built on the idea that a home is not complete until the homeowner is 100% satisfied. That’s right, completely satisfied homeowners. Whether you want a home built on one of our home sites or on your own land, count on the same high quality from Ameri-Star. We have set out to exceed all your expectations of integrity, affordability, and customer satisfaction. Build lasting memories for years to come with Ameri-Star Homes. 

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