The Boston ivy covering the front of my home has finished its yearly vertical decent. Changing from bright green to crimson red, this visual display natural beauty can mean only one thing, Winter is almost upon us. As we put away our Summer sandals and break out the Winter boots, may we also take a minute to think about our homes.
Before the days get shorter and icicles adorn your roof, take a weekend to prepare your home for another harsh Michigan Winter.
Here are five things you can do this weekend to get your home ready for Winter.
1. Clean the gutters
- The gutters hanging from your home are an integral component of your home’s well being. They serve to control the flow of rainwater while protecting your roof, walls, foundation and even your landscape. However when left unchecked, gutters can turn from a necessity to a nightmare overnight! Gutters clogged with leaves, sticks and other debris can cause a leaky roof or water damage to the interior and exterior of your home.
- If your feeling ambitious, grab a ladder and spend a few hours dredging the colorful leaves from the gutters around your home. If tall ladders are not your thing, there are plenty of companies who will come out and professionally clean your gutters. While you’re at it, you may want to invest in future gutter protection and have a company install a gutter cover that will prevent leaves from entering them in the first place! Whether you decide to do it yourself or hire it done, you won’t regret cleaning the gutters as the Winter season sets in.
2. Change the filters
- Sure every time we get our oil changed we get a new oil filter but how often do we think about the filters in our home? Everything has a filter and they all eventually need changing. Spend a Saturday morning roaming around your house and you will quickly realize just how many filters you actually have. By changing these filters on a regular basis you will not only keep your appliances working at peak performance but you will also increase their lifespan.
- Consider changing the furnace filter to High-efficiency pleated filter – the Grandaddy of furnace filters. These are made from deep 4-5″ pleated synthetic cotton, attached to very rigid metal grid to prevent leaks or fluttering. While you’re at it change the water filter on your refrigerator or your whole-house system, the humidifier filter, your range hood filter, your sink filter and any other filter you may have throughout your home.
3. Kick the unwanted residents to the curb
- Your attic is ideal place for animals to seek refuge and build their homes. We rarely visit our attics making them a great place for rodents and other pest to remain undetected. Having animals in the attic is not just a matter of hearing odd sounds through the night. Most wild animals are carriers of all kinds of diseases that can and will affect our family’s health. Large rodents such as raccoons can gnaw through wires resulting in short circuits and possible fires.
- The temperature in your attic is perfect during the Fall months making it a great time of the year to take the plunge. Spend a fall weekend exploring the unexplored reaches of your attic to discover any unwanted residents before they cause any problems.
4. Blow out your sprinkler system
- If your home is equip with an underground sprinkler system, you probably already know that this large financial investment must be properly cared for every year. Here in Michigan, as your already know, we sometimes spend weeks in subzero temperatures. If you leave water in your underground sprinkler lines and it freezes many negative things can happen. Your pipes and fittings may crack while the valves and anti-siphon devices can also be affected. None of these repairs are cheap, so don’t make this mistake!
- Most local landscape companies provide yearly sprinkler system maintenance at a fair price. If you are looking to save a few bucks, you can attempt to tackle this project on your own. With a basic quick-connect coupling, you can use your air compressor to clear water from your sprinkler system for the winter season. Just be aware that even the largest home compressor isn’t powerful enough to blow out the entire system at once.
5. Replace your windows
- As the leaves begin to change and days become colder, many Michigan homeowners begin to question the performance of their windows. For one reason or another, most homeowners choose to go year after year with under performing windows. Leading to cold homes and high energy bills, inefficient windows are a major bane on our pocket books and overall comfort.
- Fall is perfect time to consider replacing the windows in your home. Many Michigan replacement window companies offer better deals in the Fall as they anticipate the slower season. By deciding to replace the windows in your home before winter, you can take advantage of lower gas bills throughout the entire season.
Fall in Michigan is a beautiful time of the year! Perfect temperatures and picturesque landscapes as far as the eye can see. Seen as a culmination of the Fall season, preparing your home for Winter should not be viewed as a chore but rather a rite of passage to a new and glorious year!
This article has been written by the publishing staff at Pure Energy Window Company. We are Family Owned and Operated replacement window company servicing all of Southeastern Michigan and Lansing. If you are considering replacing the windows in your home, give Pure Energy a call today.
Call (844) 449-9990 or click on the link below to get started!
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