Winterizing the Home with Rendon Remodeling!

As homeowners, we’ve all heard the horror stories that come with winter. Frozen pipes and ice dams and sky-high energy bills, oh my! Okay, so maybe it doesn’t flow as well as when Dorothy said it, but we promise that without proper home management, a home in winter can be just as scary as those lions and tigers and bears. Before you begin to panic, however, there are several things you can do before the weather gets too cold that can help prevent costly damage to the home.

Weather Strip your Doors and Windows

Extremely high energy bills are the result of attempts to keep the house warm since many houses fail to both keep the warm air in and keep the cold air out. Many homes have doors and windows that allow air to leak out even when they are closed. Weather stripping your doors and windows allows for you to keep the warm air in, keeping your home warm and cozy, and keeps the cold air out, allowing you to keep costs down.

Inspect your Roof and Attic

An ice dam is ice that builds up on the edges of a sloped roof of heated buildings. These ice dams form when the heat of the building melts the bottom layer of snow, and then that melted water freezes at the edge of roof, making it impossible for other melting snow or water to drain off the roof. The water, unable to drain, can leak into the home and cause expensive water damage to your walls, ceilings, and insulation. One way to prevent ice dams from forming is to install extra installation to your attic, keeping warm air from creeping to the roof. It is also important to clear out your gutters of any debris because blocked water that cannot easily flow into the downspouts can also cause ice dams. Lastly, make sure to hire a professional or trim yourself the branches that overhang the roof because snow can add a lot of extra weight, making it more likely for the branches to break and damage your roof or home.

Protect your Exposed Waterlines

In the winter, waterlines can freeze. Frozen waterlines can make it difficult to access running water, making it impossible to do everyday tasks, or worse, they can burst, causing extremely expensive damage to the home, usually several thousand dollars’ worth of damage. Waterlines in the attic or crawl spaces are extra vulnerable. One solution is to wrap these pipes in insulation with heat tape. Also, it is helpful to let cold water drip from a faucet that is served from the vulnerable pipes. Even the littlest amount of water moving through those pipes helps to prevent them from freezing.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat will help save you tons of money this winter through lower energy bills. Programmable thermostats lets you customize your heating system so it does not run when you do not need it, for example at times you are home and times you are away. These energy saving “setbacks” are most beneficial when they are at least 8 hours a day. Many people choose their setbacks to be during the day while they are at work or during the night when they are sleeping.

These tips, done proactively, will help prepare your home for the worst of winter weather, saving you money and stress that come with damage to your home. Frozen pipes and ice dams and sky-high energy bills (oh my) are no match for these tips.

Starting to plan your next home remodeling project? Schedule a complimentary consultation with us today! 703.444.3127.