4 Common Costs to Prepare for During the Coldest Time of the Year
Even if your home is relatively new, freezing temperatures and winter storms can take a toll on your property. That is why you need to be ready to tackle a few important home projects once the weather starts to cool off.
Snow Removal
Regularly removing snow from your property could be more important than you realize, and you might need to take care of that task as often as once every week or two. In addition to preventing ice from forming, removing snow is also going to protect your lawn and plants. If you don’t want to hire a company to remove your snow, then you will need to invest in a snow blower that was designed for home use.
Heating Repairs and Maintenance
No matter what steps you take to protect your HVAC system, you will probably have to deal with at least a few issues over the years. Regular maintenance should keep your heater or furnace running smoothly for quite some time, but there may come a point when you need to contact a heating repair specialist. In many cases, relatively minor heating problems can easily be fixed as long as they are caught early on.
Plumbing Insulation
Insulating all of the exposed plumbing throughout your home could prevent quite a few headaches once the weather cools off. This simple project should only take a few hours to complete, and it is going to lower your energy bills and reduce your risk of a burst pipe. To protect your pipes, all you will need to do is wrap them with foam pipe insulators and insulation tape. Insulating your pipes is going to be especially important if your water heater is located in a cold garage or outdoor shed.
Engine Heater
An engine heater is a simple device that keeps your vehicle’s mechanical components warm when the outdoor temperatures drop extremely low. In addition to making it easier to start your car in the morning, that device is also going to extend the lifespan of your vehicle by preventing the liquids from freezing. Those who don’t want to install an engine heater should consider investing in a heating blanket that can be placed over the engine.
While you might be able to take care of most preventative home maintenance on your own, major renovations and upgrades should almost always be left to the professionals. That includes any projects that involve your home’s plumbing, electrical lines, roof, or HVAC system.