How To Winterize Your Home In Texas

It’s hard to forget Winter Storm Uri that hit Texas in February 2021. With the knowledge of Texas’ highly unpredictable winter weather possibly tucked in the back of your mind, it’s a great idea to start thinking about winterizing your home. Properly winterizing your home can help you save money, improve your systems and keep you and your family safe. Take a look at our winterizing your home checklist below. 

• Safety detectors. First up, make sure that all of your fire detectors are working throughout your home as most fires take place in the winter. You should have one in every room and they should be in good working order. It’s also a good idea to place carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home as well. Here are some helpful safety detector guidelines. 
• Inspect your heating system. It’s a great idea to have a professional inspect your furnace to ensure that everything is running properly and to provide normal maintenance. This can save you money in the long run as it will run more efficiently and can spare you the hassle of expensive breakdowns. 
• Winterize windows and doors and seal cracks. Weather stripping on doors gets corroded over time and stops working as effectively. If you want to winterize your home, taking the time to properly seal doors and windows and cover cracks is an important way to keep warm air from escaping. Warm air can quickly slip through cracks in these areas, costing you money and keeping your home cold. Invest in some new weather-stripping and caulk any places where warm air can escape. 
• Check the roof, gutters and surrounding areas. Since warm air rises, you want to make sure your roof and gutters are in great shape. It’s a good idea to have a roofing pro come out to look for damaged or missing shingles where warm air can escape (or ice can cause even more damage). Clogged gutters are good fodder for major issues during a freeze too so it’s best to clean them out too. Additionally, it’s a good idea to trim back trees and branches that could cause damage if they hit your house during a winter storm. 
• Care for your water pipes. During a hard freeze, hot water pipes can burst causing flooding in the home. A little bit of insulation can go a long way to protecting your home from major damage. It’s also important to take care of your outdoor water pipes before a hard freeze. Disconnecting hoses and sprinkler systems is a good start. It’s also a good idea to shut off the outdoor water valve and then let the water drain out prior to a hard freeze. 
• Get your fireplace inspected. Many people love those cozy nights snuggled up in front of the fireplace. Before you crank it up at the start of the season, have a professional come and inspect it to ensure that it’s properly cleaned and functioning. It’s also best to shut the fireplace flue when the fireplace it’s in use as warm air can escape that way and cold air can be let in. 
• Check your exterior siding. Rotting siding or wood can be a surefire way for warm air to escape, looks unsightly, and can lead to damage to the interior of your home. Full siding replacements can be super expensive, so it’s best to do a yearly inspection during the winter and just replace the boards that need help. 

Gearing up to sell your home or looking for a new one this winter? Contact the Lippincott Team today. We can help you get ready. Call us at 713-494-1818 or check us out on social!