Winterizing your home properly can make the difference between happy holidays and a series of headaches and expenses. Follow this helpful guide so that you can stay ahead of the weather this year.

Outside

CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS

Making sure your gutters are up to par for the rainy (snowy) season now, will prevent potential major damage in the future. Clogged gutters can lead to ice pile up which can rip your gutters from your home, damage your roof, or worse cause injury when falling. Checkout this Link to know when it’s time to replace your old gutters.

CHECK FOR HOLES

Any remaining gaps in siding, windows, or doors can be filled with caulk. For extra drafty windows and doors, caulk the inside too, pulling off moldings to fill all gaps in the insulation.

INSPECT YOUR ROOF

Make sure your roof is ready for the cold winter months, added weight from snow fall, rain, ice, and sleet can push your roof to its extremes. Loose shingles, rot, and masses of moss and lichen are just a few examples of damage to look for.

Inside

CLOCKWISE CEILING FANS

Have your ceiling fans rotate in a clockwise direction so they push hot air towards the floor to lower your heating bill and make sure you are getting the most out of your furnace.

REPLACE FURNACE FILTERS

Regularly change your furnace’s filters throughout the winter. A dirty filter impedes air flow, reduces efficiency, and could even cause a fire in an extreme case.

BLOCK AIR LEAKS

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drafts can waste 5% to 30% of your energy use. Single pane windows are known for robbing homes of their heat, replace them with energy efficient windows or wrap them in film for a temporary fix. Stuffing a rag under a door frame or caulking window and door frame also help keep out drafts.

Yard

DRAIN/STORE FAUCETS

Your hose and other outside faucets, a small leak can lead to a giant stalactite or worse, a busted pipe.

TRIM NEARBY TREES

If you have any tree branches hanging near your roof, windows, or driveways, trim them back. Snow and ice will weigh them potentially to fall on your home.

FERTILIZE YOUR LAWN

It may not look like it, but your grass is actually expanding its root system to prep for the cold. Give it a helping hand and reap the benefits in the summer.

Call the Professionals

At K&P roofing we would be happy to assist you with winterizing your home. Or licensed professionals can walk alongside you in installing new windows, roofing and more. Give us a call today and see how we can help you (502) 254-2211 or email us at info@kproofing.com