1. Clean Your Gutters
   If your gutters are blocked, they can damage your foundation, roof, and landscaping. As you prepare for winter, you should at least clean your gutters in spring and fall. Apart from the occasional cleaning, you should also clean them after a major storm that tends to send leaves flying. The right approach is to clean from a ladder instead of the roof. If you can, get a spotter or hire a professional to do the cleaning for you.

2. Seal Windows and Doors
   Your heating bill would increase because cold air is leaking easily through cracks around your windows and doors. Weatherstripping your doors and caulking your windows can help to keep the house warm. If the last time you did it was last time, then this is the time to go back and check whether everything is in place. Take time to inspect your weather-stripping and make sure there are no leaks. Get a window insulation kit and properly apply the wrap to the inside of the window for that extra layer of protection.

3. Trim Your Trees
   Your trees can cause a lot of damage to your home if the branches fall on your roof. Apart from winds, winter snow and ice are common culprits for making tree branches to fall. Trimming the branches that overhang your house in time can play an important role in protecting your roof. You can also hire a tree surgeon to do the work for you and ensure everything is in place.

4. Seal Your Deck
   To keep your home safe, you need to apply a good sealant every few years or choose from a range of available permanent sealants. While opaque stains tend to last longer, clear treatments last for shorter periods and need to reapply every year. Any unsealed deck will attract mildew that will likely rot. Take time to seal your deck in fall without having for spring like everyone else. This is also a good time to check the deck for any damages that may have occurred during summer.

5. Check and Change Your Furnace Filters
   As you prepare for winter, check the instructions from your manufacturer regarding the filters. Some furnaces may need filter replacement only in the fall while others require checking through the winter. Take this time to ruin the furnace to make sure it still works before it starts getting cold.

6. Clean Your Chimney
   You should clean your chimney early enough before winter. It is custom practice for individuals with a wood fireplace to clean the chimney to reduce the risk of fire. Doing so at the right time not only makes sure you are safe but also ensures you got a way of keeping warm in the cold season.

7. Insulate Your Pipes
   For those with pipes in the basement, this is the time to cover them with foam insulation. Wrap the pipes outside with heat tape to reduce the risk of frozen pipes. This will also help in reducing any problems and damages that can be caused by frozen pipes in your home.

8. Put Away Lawn or Patio Furniture
   Before winter arises put away or cover your lawn and patio furniture, grill, or other items that you had kept outside during summer. Ensure the outdoors is clean, all kid’s toys have been gathered and put into the garage or indoors.

9. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
   The rule of thumb is to run your ceiling fans counterclockwise during summer and clockwise during winter. This will ensure that warm air is moving in the right direction for the season. The good thing is that most ceiling fans are reversible but just pressing a button.

10. Winterize Your Garden

Winterize your sprinkler system and unhook the hoses before the first frost. Make sure you have emptied the rain barrel and turn it over before a hard freeze. Failure to do so may cause it to crack or even explode in the worst-case scenario. Empty the gas tank of your lawnmower or use a gas stabilizer to ensure it is safe.

Bottom Line

Preparing for winter is quite straightforward and simple if you know what to do. These simple steps will help you reduce your heating bill during the season and avoid expensive repairs to your home after winter.

Free Consultation Services

We also offer our customers free consultation services right before placing an order with us. Our consultation services are meant to help you make the right decision for your home improvement. We understand how difficult it can get to narrow down your options, but the process ought to be easier when working with an expert.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today and hire the best in roofing, siding, and windows services in Minnesota!

Heartland Roofing Siding and Windows is known for using the finest products in the industry for roofing installation with superior quality, unparalleled craftsmanship, and follows best practices, codes, and installation specifications. So, if you are looking for a reliable roofing contractor contact Heartland Roofing, Siding, and Windows today.

1. Utilize Heat From the Sun
   The heat from the sun is free for use and allows you to save energy if you use it in the right way. During the day, open curtains on the windows facing south to allow sunlight to heat up your home in a natural way. Make sure you close them early in the evening and night when it is chilly to reduce the amount of cold entering the house.
2. Cover Drafty Windows
   You could be losing a lot of heat through drafty windows. During the cold winter months, use clear and heavy-duty plastic sheets to cover openings in your window frames. You can also tape plastic film and seal the openings tightly to reduce infiltration. Consider installing tight-fitting and insulating shades or drapes on the windows, which feel drafty after weatherizing.
3. Find and Seal Leaks
   Any leaks in your home are a source of energy loss. Take time to find and seal air leaks in your house, especially around utility cut-through for pipes, gains in recessed lights in the insulated ceiling, gaps around chimneys, and unfinished spaced behind closets and cupboards. You may add weather-stripping and caulk to seal air leaks if your windows and doors are leaky.
4. Adjust the House Temperature
   The temperature in your home should be ideal for the time of the day and activities you are engaged in. If you are home and awake, try setting your thermostat as low as you can. At night when you are asleep or when you are out of the house, setting your thermostat to around 10 – 15 degrees can save you more than 10% on your heating and cooling bills. Nowadays, you can even install a programmable or smart thermostat that allows you to automatically set the temperature depending on the time of day.
5. Reduce Heat Loss from the Fireplace
   You can take a few measures to reduce heat loss from your fireplace. When you use the fireplace, open the damper in the bottom in the bottom of the firebox. You can also open the nearest windows about 1 inch and the door leading to the room. Then lower the thermostat setting to about 50 or 550 F. When there is no fire burning, always keep the fireplace damper closed.For those who never use the fireplace, it is advisable to plug and seal the chimney flue. However, if you use the fireplace regularly, install a heat-air exchange system and tempered glass doors to ensure warm air is blown back into the room. You may also acquire C-shaped metal grates to draw cool air from the room into the fireplace while circulating warm air into the room. Other measures you may take include adding caulking around the hearth of the fireplace and ensuring the fireplace flue damper is snugly sealed.
6. Maintain Your Heating System
   You could be using lots of energy and incurring extra costs if your heating system is inefficient. Schedule for servicing on a regular basis to ensure everything is working effectively. Replace your furnace and haring pump filters once every month or as needed. Also, clean the wood and pellet-burning heaters vents on a regular basis to ensure the home is heated properly.
7. Lower Holiday Lighting Costs
   You can save on more energy by keeping your holiday lighting costs minimal. LED light strings provide a budget way of decorating the home for winter.
8. Reduce the Cost of Heating Water
   Save extra electricity cost by turning down the water heater temperature to 1200 F warm setting. The setting allows you to save energy while avoiding scalding your hands.

Windows

While most of the tips shared here can qualify as DIYs, a professional will make sure everything is done the right way. Heartland Roofing, Siding, and Windows is a general contractor specializing in roofing, siding, windows, and gutters.

Free Consultation Services

We also offer our customers free consultation services right before placing an order with us. Our consultation services are meant to help you make the right decision for your home improvement. We understand how difficult it can get to narrow down your options, but the process ought to be easier when working with an expert.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today and hire the best in roofing, siding, and windows services in Central Iowa!

Heartland Roofing Siding and Windows is known for using the finest products in the industry for roofing installation with superior quality, unparalleled craftsmanship, and follows best practices, codes, and installation specifications. So, if you are looking for a reliable roofing contractor contact Heartland Roofing, Siding, and Windows today.

1. Make Sure Your Furnace Can Get You Through the Winter
   It’s a good idea to have a professional inspect and clean your furnace to make sure it’s in tip-top shape for the blustery season ahead. Also, make sure you have enough filters to refresh them monthly throughout the winter.
2. Seal Doors and Windows
   Inspect for cracks and seal them up with caulk or weatherstripping before it gets drafty. Now is also the time to install storm windows.
3. Clear Gutters & Downspouts
   Debris and autumn leaves can trap frozen water in your gutters which could create problems like warping and cracking.
4. Beef Up Your Insulation
   Make sure that your attic has adequate insulation so you don’t waste extra money and energy on heating over the winter.
5. Check the Foundation
   Keep leaves away from the foundation and seal any cracks or entry points where mice could enter, keeping in mind the little buggers can sneak through space as thin as a dime!
6. Plant Bulbs for a Happy Spring
   Think ahead to spring and add some color to your yard with bulbs that like to be planted in the fall, such as daffodils and tulips.
7. Assess Landscaping
   Move sensitive potted plants indoors and check for branches that need trimming near your roof or power lines.
8. Change Direction on Your Ceiling Fan
   Clockwise for the winter will keep the warm air from rising and keep you warm

Free Consultation Services

We also offer our customers free consultation services right before placing an order with us. Our consultation services are meant to help you make the right decision for your home improvement. We understand how difficult it can get to narrow down your options, but the process ought to be easier when working with an expert.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today and hire the best in roofing, siding, and windows services in Central Iowa!

Heartland Roofing Siding and Windows is known for using the finest products in the industry for roofing installation with superior quality, unparalleled craftsmanship, and follows best practices, codes, and installation specifications. So, if you are looking for a reliable roofing contractor contact Heartland Roofing, Siding, and Windows today.