If you live in the Denver or Colorado Springs area, you know that winter is approaching. Or if you’re a Game of Thrones fanatic - “winter is coming”. In a way, we already had a dose of it with the snow we had a few weeks ago. Snow in September - crazy, right?! Not so much. With the unpredictable weather we have in Colorado, it’s best to prepare as early as possible for the winter and snowfall.
Here are 8 things FH Water Restoration recommends you do this year to be a smart homeowner and prepare for winter early:
Have Your Furnace & Boiler Inspected
The worst time to realize your furnace isn’t working is in the middle of a freezing January Colorado night. Instead of waiting for this worst-case scenario, ensure your furnace and boiler are working as needed before the cold comes. Check out if your service company can bring you on with a service contract for regular checks. You’ll thank us when you make it through winter nice and warm.
Consider Getting a Generator
You never know when a big winter storm will hit in Colorado. You also never know when these big storms may knock out power for some time. Again, unpredictable and unexpected. You can prepare for this by investing in a generator to power your home should something occur. They’re worth it!
Clean Your Gutters
Once the leaves are off the trees, and into your gutters, it’s time to clean them out. Why? Because if you allow your gutters to back up, the water has nowhere else to go except overflowing then running down your home which will aid in deteriorating the exterior. This can also lead to water getting into your basement and weakening your foundation. Not cleaning your gutters before winter will only cause issues in the long run.
Stock Up on Firewood
If you don’t have the option to chop down your own trees and create a stockpile of firewood, now would be a good time to order firewood. Find a good spot in your yard and stack it up and cover it for future use. You’ll be happy you took this step when you can cozy up to your fireplace on a snowy Colorado day.
Shut Down Your Sprinkler System
You don’t want to have a bunch of broken sprinkler lines in the spring by leaving water in the lines during the winter. To avoid this, you’ll want to make sure your sprinkler is properly shut down for the cold months and that the lines are blown out prior to. Consider going through a professional sprinkler winterizing company to make sure this is done properly. It will be way cheaper than replacing parts of your sprinkler system next year.
Prepare for Snow Removal
Living in Colorado, there’s no doubt we’ll have snow every year. Regardless of how much is expected, it’s smart to fire up your snowblower or plow prior to the first snowfall to make sure it’s ready to handle snow this season. If repairs are needed, get them done ASAP.
Paint/Caulk/Seal Exterior Wood
If you have any wood material on the exterior of your home, it needs to be protected from the elements. To protect the wood around the exterior of your home from deteriorating, you want to stay up on the maintenance of it which includes painting, caulking, and sealing whenever necessary.
Test Your Smoke Detector
Believe it or not, the most house fires happen in the winter season. This is because everyone is blasting their furnace at full steam or creating fires inside in their fireplaces. It’s a good idea to ensure your smoke detector is working properly before you start blasting your heat on high. Have extra batteries around too in case the detector happens to die one day.
When you live in a state that experiences harsh winters, it’s never too early to prepare for the snow and chilly temperatures. It’s better to be prepared than not, right? These are the top tips FH Water Restoration gives to all of our customers whether they hired us for a roof repair, fire restoration or anything else - when winter hits, no one is exempt.
If you have any questions on these tips, give FH Water Restoration a call! We’re happy to help you prepare for winter and snow and get your home up-to-date if need be.
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