Exterior Home Maintenance for Fall – Is Your Minneapolis Home Ready for Colder Weather?

Early September brings a lot with it such as shorter days, cooler weather (the first frost), school, and responsibility. Even though spring cleaning is popular, fall cleaning should be just as important. You have to get so much ready on your home for the colder months – such as weatherstripping your windows and doors.

Weatherstripping can be made from felt, foam, plastic or even metal. It helps to seal any small gaps that you find to keep out the cold drafts and moisture. If there is weatherstripping missing, cracked, or warped then it should be fixed or replaced. Doors need more weatherstripping than windows since you have to seal not only the bottom of the door, but the top and the jambs. Anything newer and energy-efficient in the home should not have to be weatherstripped.

Check All of Your Storm and Regular Windows

• Any windows that might be dirty, cracked, or worn should be replaced.
• Use plywood against the exterior vents on the basement on the side that the weather hits the most; it can prevent the pipes from freezing. The boards can be removed in spring time.

Inspect Your Insulation

• Check all of the insulation throughout the home to see if more is needed. Always keep in mind the type of insulation that you purchase, and have it installed the correct way to ensure that moisture does not seep inside the home.

Check your Gutters

• Make sure all of the gutters are clear of debris; you can keep sweeping it out when leaves and other items land in them.
• Check your gutters for leaks – repair or replacement should be done before the snow flies, because gutters that don’t drain properly can lead to ice dams.
• Caulk the exterior of the home
• Caulk is great to use for weatherstripping. You can cover up all of the gaps on the outside of the home using caulk. Check everywhere, windows, doors, siding, corners, and vents. Different caulk works on different material, ensure you’re using the right type for the area you’re placing yours.

Clean the Dryer Vent

• This should be done twice a year. It should be vacuumed out thoroughly – unhook the tube that connects the dryer to the vent and clean it out with the hose of the vacuum. You can then do this from the outside as well.

Have Your Roof Inspected

• Inspect the chimney and the roof (this job is one you may want to hire a professional roofing contractor for)
• Check for any broken, missing, cracked, warped or chipped shingles, flashing, tiles, and seals. Check around the vent pipes and chimneys. Make sure there is no damage done. Pay special attention to the valleys of the roof. A lot of times water pools in this area and can cause leaks.

Talk with our Minneapolis window company when it comes to weatherstripping and making the most of the time that you have before the cold weather settles in. Here at Window Outfitters are able to help you with getting your home ready for Old Man Winter in Minneapolis.  We handle window repair and replacement, gutters, siding, exterior doors, and storm window installation.

Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.