Get Your Home Ready for Winter

I don’t know about you, but I can already feel the cold in my bones. Winter is coming (sigh) and being born and raised in Fort McMurray I can tell you, our winters can be pretty cold.

Winterizing your home consists of many things that fall off our radar during the spring/summer and get forgotten about before ‘Old Man Winter’ gets here… Tackle these tasks before his visit to keep your home safe and warm.

1. Clean out your gutters and eaves troughs of fallen leaves before winter. This allows for rain and snow to drain avoiding any potential leaks in the home, and saving you money from potential repairs.

2. Insulate your walls, floors, and attic properly to avoid heat loss in the home. Be sure to check your insulation before winter hits.

3. Block potential drafts, caulk any gaps and cracks in the property and seal around the windows and doors to prevent air from getting in and your money from getting out.

4. Maintain your HVAC system with a pre-winter inspection to avoid any costly and emergency repairs that could leave your home without heat. Changing your filter every 30 days will heat your home more efficiently.

Setting your thermostat to 20 degrees when you’re home and putting on a sweater to stay warm can help save energy. Studies show that you use 3-5% more energy for each degree your thermostat is set above 20 degrees.

Why heat your home when you’re not in it? Did you know that if you set your thermostat between 10-15 degrees you can save 5-15% a year on your energy bill? A programmable thermostat can save you up to 10% a year on heating and cooling costs.

Who doesn’t love to snuggle up in front of the fireplace on those cold winter nights? If you have a fireplace in your home and plan to use it, be sure to get a pre-winter inspection on it to ensure it’s working properly. When not using it, be sure to close the damper or seal it off to prevent cold air from getting through. Being mindful of these small actions can keep your home noticeably warmer.

Winterizing your home will surely prepare you for ‘Old Man Winter’s’ visit, help maintain a comfortable indoor temperature despite what is going on outdoors, and could SAVE you thousands of dollars due to unforeseen repairs and replacements! BE WINTER READY!

Winterized and ready to sell?? At Seller Direct Fort McMurray, we are all about SAVING YOU MONEY… Reach out today to find out how you can SAVE up to 50% on your commission fees too!