Tips to prevent winter property damage – RealtyBizNews

Homeowners need to take extra steps to protect their homes during the colder months, as the ice, wind and rain can wreak havoc at winter time.

Leaf Home, a home solutions provider, recently offered the following winter checklist for homeowners to protect their properties against seasonal damage.

It turns out that winter protection all starts with the guttering. As such, Leaf Home advises to keep those gutters clean by removing leaves and other debris that may get trapped inside them, as well as any birds nests! Homeowners should also ensure their guttering is still in good condition, as its common for underlying problems to first appear in the winter time.

If the guttering is left unkempt, it can cause ice dams that may eventually damage it. The problem is that the build up of ice gets increasingly heavier, pulling at gutters until they start to break. Some gutter guards can actually make the ice dams worse, so its important to keep an eye out if the home has any. Leaf Home says ice dams can be prevented by boosting ceiling and roof installation, sealing electric cables and vent pipes and proactively fixing cracks in the chimney flashing.

Its also important to ensure the gutters are the right fit for the house. If its not the right sort, it will be easier for weather to damage other spaces through them. This is particularly a concern in older homes, so its important homeowners assess this before trouble appears.

Besides the guttering, another important task is to conserve energy in the home by ensuring that the outdoor climate stays where its supposed to be outside. The main points of entry for those chilly drafts that can suck all the heat out of a home are the windows and doors. Leaf Home recommends checking for holes in screens, making sure the windows are the correct choice for the regions climate, and adding window film or insulation.

Last but not least, Leaf Home reminds homeowners that one of the main dangers in winter can be black ice on the driveway and on ramps. So its a good idea to shovel off that snow or put salt down to ensure no-one can slip or fall while using them.

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Tips to prevent winter property damage - RealtyBizNews