It may seem strange to start talking about winterizing your home when our temperatures are only flirting with dropping into cooler temperatures, but there are a few projects you can do now to start getting your home ready.
There’s a whole list of easy projects that you can finish in a weekend in about a month as the temperatures get cooler. There are also a few we recommend that will either take a bit of planning ahead or scheduling an appointment with a professional, so we suggest you start here.
Get a Heating System Inspection
Now is a good time to schedule an inspection of your furnace – before you need to turn it on for the first time. Your HVAC pro can make sure it’s running efficiently and give it a tune-up if needed. They also make sure it’s running safely.
They will likely check the following:
- Do a safety check for carbon monoxide
- Clean and replace air filters
- Check blower operation
- Clean motor and fan
- Inspect gas piping to furnace
A furnace inspection is a great investment, both from the fact that it keeps your family safe and healthy, and that it can help you save energy.
While your HVAC tech is there, have them also clean and inspect heating ducts. Ducts can account for up to 60% of hot air escaping before making it to the vents and into rooms to keep you warm. Do you really want to be spending all of that money heating your attic?
Get a Chimney Inspection
If your home has a chimney, you need to get it inspected and swept. Thousands of fires each winter start in a chimney. Tar and soot can build up in the walls of the chimney … or birds can build a nest in Spring which is full of very dry twigs by Winter that can either cause smoke to back up into your home, or be a fire hazard.
A chimney sweep can check the structure of your flue and remove any combustibles or obstructions in your chimney.
Prepare an Emergency Kit
This one also takes a bit of planning ahead, so you’ll want to start now.
Even in Texas, ice storms can cripple the city. We’ve seen our homes without power for a week, and roads treacherous to travel.
Having a kit stocked with enough supplies for 72 hours – or more – can make the difference between having to scramble and figure things out in the spur of the moment when an emergency starts, or having a bit extra peace of mind.
Stock your emergency kit with food, water (if electricity goes out, your heater likely also goes out, which can make it more likely for your pipes to freeze), and other supplies, such as lighting sources. You can sometimes find these types of kits to purchase online, or you can use a site such as Ready.gov to print out a list of items you can include.
Have an Annual Maintenance Inspection
Home inspections aren’t just limited to when you’re buying or selling your home. Many of our clients like the peace of mind provided by an annual maintenance inspection.
The annual maintenance inspection is for homeowners to do a thorough maintenance checkup inspection of their home or a rental home. Landlords can also use this inspection report to determine if any of the home’s systems need attention or repair to maintain their investment home’s value.
For commercial property inspections in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, including a thorough and informative home inspection report, learn more at
or request a quote for a commercial inspection at
682-351-2267