With the holiday season in full swing, you know winter is coming. Here in western North Carolina, we brace ourselves for bad weather. The six-inch snowfalls, icy driveways and sidewalks, and the potential for damage to our homes, decks, and landscaping. All in nearly unbearable below-freezing temperatures.
In reality, for a mountainous area like ours, winters are relatively mild. The higher elevations of northern and eastern Buncombe County, Madison County, and Haywood County do see substantial snowfall each year. However, in the French Broad River Valley, winter storms are sporadic, and temperatures can be pleasant for weeks in a row.
However, when the cold and precipitation strikes, it can make being outside miserable. Your home is the refuge that can protect you from the elements. It is a much-needed retreat from the outdoors in which you can stay warm and cozy while sipping on hot chocolate while you binge your favorite television series.
To keep your home protected from all the crazy weather to come this upcoming season, here are a few things you need to do to prepare.
How to Winterize Your Home
Before the weather gets too crazy, do these things to winterize your home:
1) Clean out your gutters
Gutters can collect a lot of debris in the autumn months. Leaves fall and land right in your gutters, along with acorns, pinecones, and things alike. Take some time to remove that debris; otherwise, that debris will cause issues:
- Debris in the gutter will block water from flowing freely.
- When water does not flow through your gutters, it will go over the sides and cause flooding in your yard.
- The water spilling out of the sides of your gutters can cause issues with your home’s foundation.
- Water trapped by debris will freeze and expand, damaging your gutters.
2) Patch any cracks on windows and doors
To keep the warmth in your home, you have to prevent the cold air from entering and warm air from escaping. Draft windows can release upwards of 25% of your home’s heating energy.
Be sure to seal cracks in your windows and replace weather stripping on your doors to ensure you are not wasting energy.
3) Store your outdoor furniture
The amount of time you’ll spend outside over the next few months is likely to be limited. When you must go outside, you likely won’t spend your time sitting on your patio furniture. It’s time to move your outdoor furniture into storage, so it will be protected from the weather. This will help ensure it is in good condition and ready for spring.
If you have permanent fixtures outside, you may want to cover them with a tarp; although, you will have to pay close attention to high wind events to make sure your covers don’t blow away.
Before you store or cover your outdoor furniture, make sure you have it professionally pressure washed. Pressure washing and soft washing patio and deck chairs and tables will help preserve their lifespans, prevent mold and mildew development in storage, and ensure they are sparkling clean for the start of spring.
4) Disconnect the garden hoses and sprinklers
During the summertime, your garden hoses and sprinklers are essential to keeping your gardens and lawns in their best shape. However, during the colder winter months, when your grass is brown, and your garden is dormant, you should disconnect your hoses and sprinklers. In fact, if you don’t, moisture inside them could freeze and cause damage that you don’t discover until spring.
Store your hoses in a safe place out of the elements and turn off outdoor faucets. When spring arrives, you’ll be glad you did!
5) Have your outdoor surfaces pressure washed
All the various types of weather throughout the year can leave a layer of filth on your home’s exterior. Dirt and grime can build up on your siding, deck, patio, driveway, sidewalk, and all outdoor surfaces. Before winter is in full swing, it is a good idea to have your home and property pressure washed by professionals.
6) Prepare for snow
While snowfall events are sporadic, when they come, you cannot necessarily stop everything you are doing. You may still need to get to work or school. Before winter, Invest in a quality snow shovel that will be strong enough to clear the sidewalk and driveway after a winter storm.
In preparation for winter storms, put stakes to outline your driveway and sidewalk so when snow falls, you’ll be able to see where you need to shovel. While you’re at it, you can put stakes around the rest of your exterior home to mark potential tripping hazards when the snow has buried those.
HydroClean Is Here to Help You Prepare for Winter
Before winter storms strike, HydroClean’s experienced, professional team of pressure washing experts is here to thoroughly clean the exterior of your home and property. HydroClean has served the Buncombe, Henderson, and Haywood Counties with over 21 years of experience cleaning Asheville area homes and properties.
If winter weather does strike this year, HydroClean provides snow removal services to help you or your businesses continue daily life with minimal interruption. We want to make sure you are fully prepared for everything winter will throw at your Asheville home or business.
Please feel free to contact us to discuss your pressure washing and snow removal services. We are here for you.