Prep Your Home for Winter

The cold weather may already be upon us, but it is important to tend to winter preparation and repairs before the year’s first snow. Getting your exterior ready for the cold winds, snow, and ice is important for keeping your home warm, lowering energy bills, and making your home safe in the winter months. Here are some tips for getting your home’s exterior winter ready.

1) Schedule a professional furnace tune-up. A certified technician can perform a cleaning and inspection of the system to ensure safe and efficient operation all winter. Getting the job done now is much more convenient than waiting for a repairman in a cold home with no heat!

2) Clean the chimney. A clean, well-maintained chimney ensures you can safely enjoy cozy fires throughout the winter. A chimney sweep knows how to remove soot and creosote build-up, substances which can cause potential fires and damage to the chimney itself. Check the fireplace for drafts. If it is cold despite the damper being closed, the damper may be warped, worn, or rusted. Consider installing a chimney balloon into the flue to air seal the area.

3) Caulk and weatherstrip. Stop air leaks by caulking around windows and doors. Ensure that doors and windows shut tightly; if not, install weatherstripping to keep out drafts. Replace screen doors and windows with storm doors and windows. Inspect your windows for cracks, broken glass, or gaps and replace or repair if needed.

4) Check the attic. Poorly insulated attics are a notorious source of heat loss within a home’s building envelope. Ideally, a properly insulated Wisconsin attic should have enough insulation to provide an R-value of 50 (or about 14 inches, depending on the material). The R-value indicates the insulation’s ability to resist heat transfer.

With the right winterizing improvements, it’s possible to avoid winter headaches and cut your heating costs nearly in half. For assistance with many exterior improvements, call Callen today at 414-529-5509. Our experienced professionals will visit your home and do a thorough inspection of your windows or any other area of concern. Discover for yourself why we are considered the best remodeling company in southeastern Wisconsin.