Homeowners know that the winter season often brings with it freezing temperatures, a rise in energy bills, and expensive restoration costs. Adverse weather conditions can create unpredictable risks for the home, which is why you need to plan for it well in advance. Fortunately, there are preparations you can make to avoid nasty, weather-related surprises. Here are five home improvements you can make to prevent winter disasters.

Replace Old Doors

Old doors are often the culprits when it comes to letting in a cold draft. Cold air can easily infiltrate an old door and create discomfort in the home. Old wood can easily become damaged from winter moisture. In turn, they can peel and rot. When it comes to the entry door to the home, an old unit can become less secure with time. With Christmas around the corner, a lot of homes become targets for burglaries and thefts. Not only will a door replacement keep in the warmth, but it can also deter thieves and keep your home safe from intruders.

Install Efficient Windows

Single glazed windows are much less efficient than double or triple glazed models. They may be more expensive, but the initial cost of installation is offset in the long run. Efficient windows provide your home with good insulation and can help you maintain a good temperature indoors. In turn, this reduces your need to crank up the heating and can save you money in terms of heating.

Trim the Greenery Surrounding Your Property

Giving the greenery around your home a trim not only keeps your property looking neat and tidy, but it can also prevent serious damage and accidents too. Windy, stormy weather can cause overgrown branches to snap off and fall onto your property, your neighbor’s home, vehicles, and even onto people passing by. This home improvement is especially necessary if you are renting out your property to tenants. Landlords who have little time to check on their rental properties should delegate the job to a homeowners property management company. They will help inspect your property for risks, and they will even visit your property for emergencies.

Check for Cracks and Seal the Home

Checking for cracks in the home and sealing them up can help keep your property insulated. Insulating materials are often inexpensive, and this DIY project is simple to do. While you’re at it, check the masonry and concrete around your home for cracks. These types of cracks need to be repaired by a specialist, but spotting them sooner rather than later will allow you to address the problem quickly and keep your home warm.

Gutter Maintenance

Some of the worst winter disasters you can face include a flooded home, a leaky roof, and burst pipes. Not only will you be stuck in uninhabitable conditions for a period of time, but the solutions to these problems are incredibly expensive too. In adverse weather, gutters can become clogged with debris. The excess rainwater could spoil the exterior of the home, cause the roof to sag, and it could eventually make its way into the home. Prevent a major disaster by cleaning out the gutter. Regular gutter maintenance can help keep you warm and prevent serious damage.

If you already see marks of water damage on your walls or ceiling, consider working with a water damage restoration company to prevent further damage.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.