Winter is just around the corner and while that may have you thinking about Christmas presents, it should have you thinking about the best ways to prepare your home and yard for winter. Homeowners have a long list of things they need to do this time of year, so we decided to help make it a little easier to manage! 

Clean the Gutters

Clogged gutters can lead to a slew of issues including damage to your roof and walls, as well as ice dams and water leaks. A simple way to prevent all of those issues is to clear the debris out of your gutter. You can hire a professional to clean your gutters or do it yourself. If you decide to do it yourself, make sure you have a friend outside with you to make sure you don’t fall. 

Seal Windows and Doors

Drafts from windows and doors will raise your heating bill drastically this winter. Seal around your windows and doors with caulking for a cheap way to prevent this issue. You should only need to seal areas where the current caulking appears to have holes, cracks or is pulling away from the surface behind it. 

Stock Up on Winter Essentials 

Don’t wait until the first snowfall to go buy a snow shovel! Stock up on shovels, salt, and any other winter essentials before the cold weather hits. If you wait until winter to get winter essentials, you’ll likely be left struggling to find them in stock and paying inflated prices. 

Inspect Your Furnace 

Your furnace hasn’t been run in a long time and that may mean there are issues waiting for you. The last thing you want is to be stuck without heat during cold weather, so inspect the furnace before winter is here. You should hire a professional to inspect your furnace to ensure nothing is overlooked. While you’re at it, change your air filter! 

Hire a Chimney Sweep

Chimneys require close attention to avoid a fire hazard. At least once per year you should hire a professional chimney sweep to come to clean out any built-up debris from inside the chimney. Burn a special cleansing log once per month throughout the year to keep your chimney healthy. 

Contact Tri-Rent-All Hampton or Portsmouth for these and any other homeowner needs. It’s been a long year, your home deserves some TLC!