The 3 Things You Must Check Before Winter

Prepping your home for cold weather protects your investment and your family.

Here comes the cold, are you ready? Well, even if you aren't; the cold is still coming. And with the cold comes winter threats on your safety and home. Luckily, by checking three things - trees, heat and plumbing - you can save yourself thousands of dollars as well as protect your family. So, instead of hoping the cold decides not to show up this year, take these steps to protect your most important investment; your home.

1.) Trees - Trees are great! Trees make air, give us shade and - oh yeah - crush your house when they fall. Actually, the part where they crush your house actually isn't that fun. Act now to take off those branches that threaten your safety and investment before those trademark Missouri ice storms hit. While you're at it, clean all the leaves from your gutters to prevent water from pooling and freezing; destroying your gutters. 

2.) Heat -Your furnace or heating unit has been sitting all summer long, just waiting for you to need it. After all that waiting, it may not be ready for winter. Have an

 HVAC contractor stop byand make sure your heating unit is safe, vacuum the unit to get rid of dust and install a new filter. If you have a chimney, go ahead and call the chimney sweep as well. These steps can save you hundreds in heating over the course of the winter.

3.) Plumbing - Outdoor plumbing is the main issue. Sprinklers need to be blown out and emptied of water. Outdoor faucets need to be covered or they can crack in the cold. A broken outdoor faucet often leaks inside the house and can quickly flood a basement before anyone notices. Be especially careful with plumbing in the attic, as some older homes have, if they aren't insulated with pipe wraps they may freeze and explode - flooding the house.

Checking these items will probably take an afternoon to accomplish, but they will protect your home from the harsh winter weather. Don't wait until the first cold hits because it will be too late. Take action now to protect your home and your family.

Need help getting your home ready for winter? Just give Provident a call; we do all this and more.