Having a Home in the Bitter Cold Chicago Winters means Weather Proofing our Home. This past weekend my husband sealed all the windows with tape and plastic because even with the storm windows it helps to keep out the drafts. He tinkered with the water heater and the humidity in the central air this morning before work. This weekend we will tackle the doors and the outside pipes.

Simple DIY Home Repairs For the Winter

Before winter fully sets in, it’s important to make sure your home is ready. Some of the home repairs you can do yourself without spending money on an expert. You can prepare your windows, doors, pipes, faucets, water heater and many other parts of your home without any help. Below you will find some easy home repairs you can do before it starts to get too cold outside:
Preparing your Windows

Before you actually prepare your windows for winter, you need to do a deep cleaning of the frame, windowsill and actual glass. Without a full cleaning, you could end up with leaks or drafts. After cleaning the windows, you want to install storm windows. You may need some supplies, including different types of tape offered by iTapeStore.com. This will make the job a little easier.
Once the storm windows are installed, you to check for any visual defects, including cracks and holes around the frame. Fill any holes with putty or caulk and also check for any dried out caulk or putty, which needs replaced. It’s also important to make sure the weather stripping is properly in place and not dried out. Finally, make sure to remove the screens, so they don’t become damages through the winter.
Winterize Doors
Outside doors can also be prepared for winter without professional help. Start by checking weather stripping on the doors. If it’s falling off or brittle, you need to replace the weather stripping first. You should also check the caulking and remove and replace it, if necessary. These are the two major elements of winterizing our outside doors.
Protecting Faucets and Pipes
One of the most important things you can do in the fall to protect your home involves your water supply. Outsides faucets need to be shut off and drained before your area sees temperatures below freezing. (Check the outdoor faucet reviews here on myhomeneedz if you need any). If they are exposed to the elements, you should insulate the faucets to protect them throughout the cold. Use foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation for pipes and faucets outside. In addition, make sure to use special heating strips for any pipes or faucets not in a heated area of your home. This helps to keep these pipes from freezing.

 

Preparing your Water Heater
There’s nothing worse than waking up to take a hot shower only to find out you can’t. Protecting your water heater for the winter is very easy. Simply open and close any shutoff valves a few times to help prevent seizing. You should also drain the sediment from your water heaters. This is done by shutting off the water supply to it, attaching a garden hose to the drain vale and opening the valve. Let water flow until only clean water comes out.
With these tips, you can prepare your home for winter. You don’t need to hire any type of expert to handle these tasks. By doing them yourself, you will save money and your house will be ready for the cold weather.