The Most Effective Ways to Weatherproof Your Home

Your home has to put up with a lot of elements: rain, snow, heat, humidity, wind—you name it. This guide will help you identify the most effective ways to weatherproof your home.

Cold Weather Tips

• Cover your fireplace you’re not using it. Fireplaces let out a lot of heat when not in use.
• Make sure your windows are properly installed. If you need a quick fix for a draft, consider getting static cling window films.
• Draft stoppers can work wonders, as can updating the weatherstripping around your doors and windows.

Warm Weather Tips

• Fresh exterior paint helps homeowners avoid future issues such as rotting siding. The sun is the enemy to home exteriors. As soon as you see peeling or bubbling paint, you need to scrape off the old paint and apply a fresh coat.
• Do a survey of your roof. If you find any questionable shingles, you may need to simply replace or repaint them. If you discover more extensive damage, however, call in the pros—roofs are one of those things that are usually best left to the professionals.

All-Weather Tips

• Rain is one of the worst things your home has to face. If it gets into your home, it can do some serious damage. Therefore, you’ll want to keep your gutters clean and free of debris. This eliminates moisture and water buildup, which can lead to flooding and the water seeping into places it’s not supposed to be.
• Your water heater releases a lot of heat when it kicks on, so it’s better to contain this heat if you can. Properly insulate your water heater by wrapping it in a specialized insulated blanket.
• Get smart by investing in a smart thermostat that will adjust according to your preferred settings. This will help you maintain the temperature inside your home even when you’re not home.
• Insulation should be present throughout the home, including in the basement. Many homeowners skip the basement because they believe it’s a waste of time and money. In reality, a lot heat and cool air enters and exits the home there.

You may able to get by without some of these tips, but you really shouldn’t pass on two in particular. The first is keeping your gutters clean, because failing to do so can lead to so many issues. Secondly, do as much as you can to prevent rain from getting anywhere it’s not supposed to be. These are two of the most effective ways to weatherproof your home for long-term results.