While we don’t get much snow 
here in Atlanta, the cold can still cause damage to your home, which may lead to homeowners insurance claims and costly repairs. Maintaining your home and preparing for the cold is the best plan.
Here are some tips for preparing for the winter:
- Check your fireplace and chimney. Wood burning fireplaces collect soot over time, and can clog the chimney. The best way to prevent this potential fire hazard is to have a professional inspect both every year, or at least every other year.
- Have your furnace tuned up. As with your fireplace, your furnace should be inspected at least every other year for optimum efficiency as well as for leaks and cracks. Also don’t forget to change your filters regularly. The dirtier the filters are, the hard it is for your system to work.
- Drain all exterior spigots and remove water hoses. Extreme cold can cause pipes connected to spigots to burst. Once hoses have been removed, you can insulate your spigots from the cold for extra protection. If you have an irrigation system, make sure that is properly drained for the winter months.
- Keep your gutters cleaned. Once all the leaves have fallen, make sure to do another check of your gutters. If there is a snow fall and your gutters are not clear, once the snow melts your gutter could break if they are weighed down with backed up leaves.
- Check all weather stripping. This inexpensive ounce of prevention will save you money during all seasons. Check with your hardware professional for the best solution for your window and door types. Caulking, stripping and expandable foam are all great tools for keeping the cold out and the heat in.
- Keep a supply of salt or kitty litter ready for ice. Again, while we don’t get much snow, we do get ice – which is much more dangerous. Make sure to check the walkway and steps for any ice accumulation. A single accident due to someone slipping on your walkway can be extremely expensive.
As we all know, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Please contact me if you are considering buying or selling, and keep safe this winter!
Marie Dinsmore, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist
The Dinsmore Real Estate Team | www.dinsmoreteam.com
