Winter is a tough season, between shoveling snow, warming your
car for the day, and dressing in layers it can be difficult to manage all the maintenance this season requires. Winter is also especially tough on your home. In order to ensure that your home remains in its best condition throughout this season and going into spring, there are a few things you must do.
Here are a few home maintenance tips to survive the winter:
Reverse your fans
This is an easy way to save money on heating costs this season. Turning your fans clockwise will stop warm air from rising, thus keeping the heat where you want it. If you have ceiling fans in your home, there should be a switch located somewhere on the fan all you have to do is slide it over to reverse the fan.
Keep the heat on
Some people turn their heat off when they leave the house for the day, or if they are going on vacation. While this may seem like it is helping reduce your heating costs, it is actually putting your home’s pipes at risk for potentially freezing. When the pipes freeze, the water expands and will possibly burst, causing water to flood your home. Instead of turning the heat off you can turn it down about 10 degrees when you are not home.
Check tree limbs
It is best to clip trees in the fall, but it is also important to be mindful of the trees during winter, especially when there is snowfall. Snow can accumulate on trees and cause weaker branches to snap and break. This can be extremely dangerous. Be mindful of tree limbs especially those closest to your home. Do not shake the snow from trees, as this can cause them to break and fall.
Gutter maintenance
It is best to clean your gutters as the seasons change. During winter, snow and ice can accumulate, causing your gutters to be significantly weighed down. If there is already debris in your gutter, the snow will only make things worse by causing more build-up. When this happens, it is best to refer to professionals. Cleaning your gutters is a difficult task, especially if you have no prior experience.
Alaska Premier Gutters offers gutter installation, repair and cleaning services in Anchorage and the surrounding areas of Alaska. Whether you need gutter cleaning, repair work or a new system designed and installed, contact Alaska Premier Gutters to learn more or to schedule a consultation.