The best home prep for the worst kinds of weather
Ah, winter. It’s often an unpredictable time for both temperature and precipitation. Windy, rainy, and sunny, all in one day? Totally possible, especially in Butte County!
But while you can’t control what the season does from one day to the next, there’s some practical prep you can do to get your property ready and keep it safe from the elements. Whether you have a custom or semi-custom Palisades house, Trilogy’s winter home maintenance tips will help you prepare your home for the season!
Trilogy’s Essential Winter Home Maintenance Tips
Indoor
- Change your HVAC filters. Make sure to start winter off with a fresh filter! Not only will it produce cleaner air, but it’ll also make your system run more efficiently so you’ll save on energy bills.
- Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. ‘Tis the season for burning candles and lighting fireplaces. But before you do, check your detectors to ensure they’re working properly and can alert you in the event of an unplanned fire!
- Seal or caulk around your windows and doors. This will help keep the cold air out and the hot air in (and help lower those energy bills, too).
- Rotate your ceiling fans. Yes, really! Switching the direction of your fans to spin counterclockwise will stir up warm air (which is especially helpful for those with vaulted ceilings). Be sure to add switching them back to clockwise to your summer home maintenance list!
- Inspect insulation. Head up to your attic to check for any gaps or missing insulation. And while you’re up there, make sure you’ve got the right insulation for your home, too. Having the correct type, thickness, and coverage can make all the difference in your home’s efficiency and heating bills!
Outdoor
- Check your warranties. From your roof to your HVAC system, it’s important to understand what items are still under warranty and which you need to tackle yourself in case you need any repairs or replacements this season.
- Get a chimney inspection and cleaning. If you have a wood stove or fireplace, it’s critical to have it serviced by a pro before using it each season to remove dangerous creosote build-up, which could start a fire.
- Clean your gutters. While it’s best to do this during your fall home maintenance, it’s better late than never. Debris-filled gutters can clog and flood your yard, or even freeze during ultra-cold nights. If you get a mid-winter dry spell, they’re also great tinder for wildfire embers.
- Trim trees and shrubs. On wild and windy days, the last thing you need is dead tree or shrub branches becoming projectile objects. The best time to prune back is fall, but now’s the time to take care of those winter stragglers and dead trees and bushes.
- Cover fragile plants. If you have any delicate flowers or warm-weather-loving citrus, help keep them cozy this season by wrapping them in burlap or other covers. Give them extra attention in a few months by adding fertilizer according to your spring home maintenance checklist!
Home protection for every season
At Trilogy, we don’t just build houses, we build homes. And we care about making yours last, which is why we’ve made a home maintenance checklist for every season. By following these suggestions, you’ll increase the lifespan of your residence and can avoid costly surprise repairs.
