We understand how important it is to keep your home comfortable, particularly during cold winter months. Frigid elements can often cause pipe damage, wet weather can warp woods and drafty windows and doors can hit heating costs hard. Check out our top home maintenance tips to safeguard your Signature Home this winter.
Protect Your Pipes
Living in the Lehigh Valley means we’ll inevitably encounter below-freezing temperatures, posing a problem for pipes. During construction of your Signature home, water pipes are built into insulated areas to reduce the risk of freezing. Extra home maintenance efforts can also help prevent pipe ruptures. Energy.gov recommends setting the thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter while you’re awake and lowering the thermostat while asleep or away from the home. Open cabinet doors below the kitchen sink to allow warm air to flow against exposed plumbing lines and wrap pipes with foam insulation covers to prevent the risk of freezing. In the event you experience a frozen pipe, follow these 5 steps from Lowe’s for safe thawing.
Seal the Gap
Doors and windows are the easiest routes for cold air to enter the home. Look for small gaps or cracks where warm air can escape. These areas can be fixed with caulking or weather strips. Energy efficiency is an important consideration during the construction of your Signature home. We’re here to help keep heating costs low, by offering installation options including double-paned windows and energy-efficient doors.
Prep Your Deck
From sprinkler systems to wood decks, roof gutters and patio furniture, all items in your Signature yard need protection from outdoor elements. Place outdoor items into storage during winter months, and for anything immobile, cover with tied down tarps to protect against high winds and wet weather. Inspect your deck for loose screws or floorboards and prepare it for winter weather with a fresh coat of water repellent finish to protect against water damage.
Use Your Decor
Switch out light and airy summer decor for heavier drapery and area rugs. Replace soft summer curtains with denser drapery to keep cold air out of your living space. Warm up your floors with big, soft rugs. To warm your living space from the ground up, consider heated flooring as an option while planning the construction of your Signature home
At Signature Homes, we specialize in building winter-ready homes designed to keep the cold out and the warmth in. Contact us today to begin customizing your very own Signature home to be move-in ready before next winter.
