Why do you have a house? Is it to enjoy the garden or to delight in the creativity of the kitchen? Fundamentally, we have homes to keep ourselves warm and dry. If your home isn’t achieving this, you need to think seriously about your landscaping and home maintenance. Here is how to keep your house warm and dry this winter.

Move From the Outside In 

A lot of home problems begin on the outside of your home. If you want to keep the inside warm and dry, make sure that you address these outdoor problems.

• Clogged gutters that send water toward the foundation. Replace these with seamless gutters and gutter covers. 
• Tree roots growing too close to the house, clogging water pipes and drainage. 
• Poorly-drained soil in the garden or a garden that tilts toward the house, sending water toward it. 
• Insect damage to the roof, siding, or foundation, leading to instability, rot, and potential for water access into the home. 
• Small cracks in the windows that let heat out and moisture in. 

By addressing some of the exterior problems, you can keep the inside of your home warm, dry, and easier to maintain.

Check for Small, Chronic Problems 

Most water damage doesn’t come from huge, catastrophic flooding. It comes from small leaks that build up over time and damage your home. These leaks can cause rot, mildew, and mold in your home, making it both unsafe and unhealthy to live in. Look for these problems to avoid more serious issues in your home: 

• Small leaks in the roof
• Weaknesses between the roof flashing and shingles 
• Water backing up under shingles
• Water leaking into the attic  
• Small cracks in the foundation
• Moisture in the kitchen or bathroom due to inadequate ventilation 
• Drips underneath appliances and faucets 
• Water pooling around the foundation

Look for Energy Leaks 

To keep your home warm, you could crank up the heating, but you could be wasting energy unless you use tricks to save it. Consider adding the following techniques to your energy-saving repertoire in order to ensure that your home is as efficient as possible: 

• Use your curtains to let heat in during the day, and “when it gets dark, shut your curtains, which act as another layer of insulation and keep warmth in your rooms,” according to the Daily Mail.   
• Seek out drafts around ill-fitting or cracked windows or door frames.
• Look at your home insulation, make it thicker when needed, and make sure that it stays dry. According to the Green Home Guide, “if your house has no wall insulation, and it has more-or-less continuous wall cavities (such as conventional stud walls), blown-in insulation can greatly improve your comfort and save enough energy to be very cost-effective.”
• Warm your home when you need it. Put your heat on timers to keep it low during the day and have it automatically make your house toasty when you wake up or come home. 
• Do an energy audit. An energy auditor can help you find the places where heat is leaking from your home.

Are you struggling with home maintenance challenges? Harry Helmet can help. We’re experts in the areas of roofing, awning, seamless gutters, and gutter covers and gutter heating. Let us work with you to make your home better. Schedule a free estimate today.

Written by Del Thebaud