Is your Cleveland home ready for fall and winter? As the leaves turn and the temperatures get colder this year, it’s time for Ohio residents to prepare their homes for damaging winter weather. If your Cleveland home has a basement, these winterizing tips are for you. An annual home maintenance plan is an important part of homeownership, and this checklist will help you get your basement ready for winter this year. Spending a bit of time, effort, and money now will save you much more on the back end.
If you’ve been watching the weather this year, you know that rising temperatures and extreme conditions have caused major weather events across the U.S. From hurricanes to summer storms and mudslides to forest fires, extreme weather is on the rise. For Ohio residents, that could mean colder temperatures and more damaging winter storms than we’ve experienced in the past. Whatever is in store this winter, it’s important to prepare your home and winterize your basement before the first freeze of the year. These maintenance tips will also help you lower heating bills this year, something we can all take advantage of.
Find and Fix Water Leaks Before Winter
One fall maintenance task for Ohio homeowners is fixing leaky pipes before the temperatures dip. Before mold, mildew, and pest activity increases in the winter, take the time to identify and fix leaky pipes throughout the home. Any amount of standing water in your home can attract more pests this winter.
To start, check out your home’s pipes from the top to the bottom of the home. Any excess moisture or standing water can mean a leak. Fixing broken or leaking pipes will help protect you from more expensive repairs from flooding or pest activity this winter.
If you find standing water in your basement or crawl space, you may have foundation issues. Even a small crack in a home’s foundation can allow moisture to seep in. To identify and fix foundation issues before they grow, schedule a professional inspection. Any damage to a home’s foundation should be repaired immediately to protect against water damage and make your home an unattractive environment for pests.
Lower Your Heating Bills with These Energy Efficiencies
One way to save a bundle this winter is to improve your home’s energy efficiency. To reduce heating costs and lower energy consumption, improve insulation throughout the home. One way to start is by finding and fixing air leaks in the home that are allowing heated air to escape.
Run your hands along doors and windows to find air leaks. If you notice a change in temperature, you can fix the leak, adding insulation by caulking inside and outside the window, door, or exterior wall. Installing curtains or plastic film on basement windows will also help insulate the basement and improve heating outputs in the home, keeping your family warm and dry this winter.
Did you know that half or more of our energy use in the home comes from heating or cooling? That’s why a small improvement can make a big impact on your monthly costs. In addition to insulation improvements, replacing your furnace filters in the fall is a good yearly practice. If you need a new furnace, consider an EnergyStar efficient gas furnace. Finally, adding a smart thermostat that automatically lowers temperatures at night or when you’re not home can help too.
Insulate and Waterproof your Basement
Another essential fall winterizing task is insulating pipes from winter weather, as well as adding insulation and waterproofing protection to your basement. Protecting your basement from water leaks, flooding, and winter storms now can help save you money from major repairs this winter.
Add foam insulation around pipes in your basement or crawl space to protect against frozen and burst pipes. Install updated insulation in your basement or crawl space, especially thermal insulation to reduce heating costs and improve waterproofing. Seal exposed ductwork with aluminum tape. Additional waterproofing protections for your basement or crawl space include adding interior drainage and a sump pump with a backup battery.
For professional help winterizing your home this fall, including a free foundation inspection, basement waterproof planning, and crawl space insulation, contact Ohio Basement Systems today.
