When the weather turns cold in fall and winter, there’s quite a few things you can do to help keep your home warm while cutting down on heating costs. Some of these are a bit more obvious than others - buying new energy efficient windows, sealing gaps to prevent drafts, and so on. But there’s a few places that might get overlooked when it’s time to prepare your home for the snow and cold: namely, your roof and gutters!
Look Up Your roof is both a sense of potential heat loss through an uninsulated attic and a source of potential hazards when it comes to loose tiles. Minor issues with your roof can turn into major problems in the middle of winter. You don't want to deal with a leak or extensive damage. You should inspect your roof for any missing shingles. If you do not feel comfortable doing repairs yourself, be sure to contact a roofing contractor. If your roof is level and covered with asphalt, you'll want to clear off any debris before the snow starts to fly. Otherwise, you'll have excess weight and moisture accumulating that can damage your roof.
Don’t Forget Your Gutters While you're focusing on your roof, you should inspect your gutters as well. This is a project that you can tackle on your own with a ladder and someone to spot you. You'll want to clean out all of your gutters so that the water will run freely and you won't have an ice build-up. If you are not confident about your own ability to take care of your gutters, you can hire someone to take care of it for you at a reasonable price. You'll find that the returns are worth it when you don't have damage to your siding and trim. If you have downspouts running from your gutters, consider extending them. You want to take them out approximately four feet away from your foundation. This will avoid damage to your foundation and potential flooding inside your home. Take care of issues now while the weather is cooperating and avoid a fight with the elements when winter is in full swing. Whether you take care of these handyman tips on your own or bring in a professional, you'll find that your efforts will pay off.
