Winter is an odd time for home maintenance, in that many people recommend you don’t try it at all. Of course, there’s some wisdom here. If your home is snowed under then that might not be the best time to refit your entire heating system, unless it’s not working of course.
Alternatively, perhaps now isn’t the best time to reinstall your exterior decking if it’s iced over completely. Just like when gardening, you might give this season a miss and wait until the conditions are much more favourable.
Now, that’s not to say you can’t perform home maintenance or renovations in winter. But it just takes some extra planning to get it right and ensure you’re not causing other problems while trying to fix one of them.
In this post, we’ll discuss some of the most common mistakes homeowners make when maintaining their households in winter:
- Assuming Roof Maintenance Cannot Take Place
Winter might seem like the worst time for roof maintenance, but some tasks are better handled sooner rather than later, and not all days in winter are going to be impossible to work around weather-wise. You can always ask the best roofing contractor to see if they’re willing.
After all, ignoring minor leaks or cracked shingles can lead to bigger issues as snow and ice build up, which can really be a problem. Even though replacing a roof might not be practical during winter, small repairs and inspections are usually possible, as long as necessary safety precautions are in place.
Clearing gutters is also a priority in winter and that relates to your roofing. Blocked drainage can lead to ice dams, where melting snow refreezes and forces water back under your shingles, which can sometimes lead to cracks and other damage. If you have an issue now, especially in a function as essential as your roof, fixing it is only wise.
- HVAC Systems Are For Summer Only
This is simply not the case of course. Many people focus on air conditioning during the warmer months because they picture it as a cooling conditioning system, but often they can increase the temperature of certain rooms too, and can require less energy than your general central heating system.
So, maintaining this can be key. That might involve changing air filters, checking for strange noises, or scheduling a tune-up can keep the unit functioning well, especially before the real cold comes in January. It’s also worth sealing any leaks in ducts to make sure warm air is distributed properly throughout your home, as this can be a problem if you haven’t tended to it in a while. These small efforts keep your home lovely and comfortable and help lower heating bills when temperatures drop.
- Maintenance Is About Repairs, Not Safety
We tend to think of maintenance as being about repairs, but that’s not necessarily the case. It can also be about safety, retrofitting parts of the house to fix you in winter. For instance, icy paths and driveways can be hazardous, so spreading salt or sand regularly is essential and a general part of your home maintenance.
If we return to inside the home, it’s important to test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, especially with your heaters, fireplaces, and stoves working overtime, the risk of a fire or gas leak increases, so you may even install these in more rooms than usual. These quick checks don’t take much effort but allow you to be prepared for the month you’re in now. In other words, maintenance doesn’t have to be a perfect and expensive fix but you can implement temporary measures for winter that work well.
- Contractors Are Unlikely To Respond
It’s easy to assume that contractors are less available in winter, but this isn’t always the case, in fact they might be quite attentive to your call. That’s because some contractors have lighter schedules during the colder months, making it easier to book them. Roofers, plumbers, and HVAC specialists often have experience working in challenging conditions, so you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out if you need help. Moreover, because they tend to plan for a quieter period, they might prioritize you or be happier to take on smaller jobs that they might not fit in otherwise.
That said, bad weather can cause delays, so it’s a good idea to be flexible with your timeline. Planning ahead and communicating clearly with contractors ensures that your home maintenance gets done, even if the schedule shifts.
With this advice, we hope you can avoid home maintenance mistakes even in th depths of winter.
