Tips to Winterize the Outside of Your Home

Before you know it, we’ll be shoveling snow off the walkway and dealing with cold temperatures. After all, it is winter in New England! Before the mercury drops, it’s important to winterize the outside of your home to protect it against the elements.

By just doing a few simple things now, you can prevent problems that could cost you down the line. Here’s a quick checklist of things to put on your to-do list:

Clean the Gutters

No one particularly enjoys cleaning the gutters, but if you don’t do it you’re setting yourself up for problems when it starts getting really cold.

If your gutters are clogged with leaves and debris, they can get full of water and get backed up. When we have a heavy rainstorm, the gutters can overflow. This can lead to leaking water that can damage your home’s siding, roof, or foundation.

While that’s unpleasant, what’s worse is that any water that is inside the gutters can freeze. This will cause the gutters to get heavy and even sag under the increased weight. When this happens, gutters can fall down or start to pull away from the house completely, resulting in costly repairs.

Pressure Washing

Over the spring and summer, mold, moss, and algae can form on patios, decks, and driveways. Pressure washing these surfaces before winter can prevent them from building up over the cold months. This will lessen the damage and give them a longer life.

Window Washing

We all know that dirty windows look unsightly, but did you know they can also affect your heating bill?

When windows are dirty, they can cut the amount of light that enters your home. Sunlight also reflects off of the smudges which prevent it from entering your home. When you have dirt and smudges all over your windows, you may need to crank the heat higher during the winter months. If you’re hoping for some rays of sunshine to help lower your heating bill, keep your windows clean.

Trim Trees

Heavy snow and ice can cause trees and limbs to fall. If one lands on your home or car it can be dangerous. To avoid this, look around your home at any low-lying limbs. If they’re ones you can cut yourself, get it done.

If they are high or in a dangerous spot, call a tree service to get them clipped. You don’t want to leave them hanging and have problems during the first snowstorm.

Check the Drainage

You may not think about it, but checking the drainage around your home is important. Make sure that no soil has settled around the foundation. When this happens, it creates areas for water to start pooling around the foundation. You want to move any water away from the home. If you find a low spot, you can fill it with some soil.

Shut Off Outdoor Water Lines, Faucets, and Hoses

On the subject of water, you want to disconnect and store any garden hoses. Also, make sure that any outdoor water lines are disconnected. If you don’t do these things, there’s a chance that water could freeze and damage pipes.

Contact Us!

As you winterize and clean the outside of your home, you may realize you need a dumpster or other waste removal. If so, Sweitzer Waste Removal is here to help. We serve both residential and commercial customers. You can reach us at 203-245-8840 or 860-669-5506. We look forward to hearing from you!