Clean Up Those Leaves
Getting all of the leaves out of your gutters can help prevent ice dams, so make sure that it is taken care of as soon as possible if you haven’t already. Speaking of leaves, Smith recommends clearing any remaining leaves away from the foundation of your house.
“These leaves hold moisture around your house,” he said. “Getting them away from your foundation is a good idea.”
Insulate Your Pipes
Burst pipes were a huge issue for many during the recent storm but insulating your pipes can help ease the pressure of freezing temperatures. For those who have a crawl space, make sure any pipes near the crawl space vents are insulated well.
“Those are usually the ones where you have problems,” Smith said. “You are talking a one-hour deal to prevent any kind of pipe burst.”
On outside faucets, make sure they have foam covers to prevent freezing. As always make sure to drip inside faucets when appropriate.
Insulate Doors And Windows
Do not ignore that drafty window! It needs to be looked at as soon as possible. This contributes to a high utility bill more often than people realize Smith said.
“This is probably the most important thing,” he said. “There is always air pushing on your house. You always have a positive pressure that’s trying to cause the air from the outside to infiltrate to the inside.”
The host suggests having a competent carpenter to check your windows out to make sure there are no gaps where they shouldn’t be.
Listen to “Winterize Your Home!” for all the tips from Smith and Blanchard. Check out The Carolina Contractor Show for more home improvement tips. Find it on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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