How to Prepare Your Arizona Home For Winters?

Are you wondering about the best time to have your home inspected during the year? No matter what time of the year you get an inspection, it will always benefit you. Home inspections should be done without delay, especially if you fear there is some issue in your home. Other than to address immediate problems, home inspections are also done for the general upkeep of a home, and the two recommended times to book a proper inspection are during springtime and before fall or winter. Since winters are around the corner, we will discuss winterizing your home and a fall home inspection in Arizona.

Winters mean more time spent indoors; hence fall and winter are great times for Home Inspection Arizona to solve problems you might not have noticed during the warmer months. This is because issues associated with the colder climate can be difficult to detect in the summer and are easier to identify in the winter. It is essential to prepare for the cold winter days and ensure you can enjoy the festive months and holidays ahead.

Winterize Your Home

Winterizing your home prevents you from many issues that may destroy your peace if not taken care of. Water pipes freezing,  bursting, and leading to water damage are one of the major problems. If you don’t ensure your water lines are properly insulated, you risk the pipes freezing and bursting. This can also lead to severe water damage to your home’s structure and leave you with thousands of dollars in repair.

There are other small steps that you need to take to winterize your home:

• Move any plants that can survive winters indoors or cover them with a tarp.
• Turn off the water supply by turning off the main valve in your house or apartment building.
• Drain all pipes leading from outside taps and sinks before they freeze and burst.
• Cover windows with heavy curtains or drapes so that cold air doesn’t get in when it’s cold outside.
• Close all vents that go to the outside and seal them (or put a plastic bag over them) to keep cold air out.
• Move any furnaces, water heaters, boilers, or gas-powered appliances indoors and turn them off.

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Winterizing Your Home

Winterizing your home is a great way to save money on skyrocketing energy bills as well. There are some common mistakes that you should avoid when winterizing your home. These are:

• Not insulating the attic or basement adequately.
• Leaving windows open for too long during cold weather.
• Not using a programmable thermostat.
• Turning the thermostat down too low-Forgetting to turn off the furnace or A/C.
• Running the heater on high setting at night.
• Not having your boilers inspected. A home with a faulty boiler is an expensive proposition to repair, so it is essential to have the unit serviced or replaced regularly by a licensed technician.
• Not requesting the best home inspectors in Phoenix for an inspection.

Inspecting The Roof For Winter Issues

Fall and winter seasons can be challenging for homeowners. The colder winter temperatures can cause roofs to become brittle and more prone to damage. Inspecting your home during this period is essential to spot telltale signs of wear, weakened or damaged installation, and other potential problems.

It’s better to spot any potential problems before they become serious issues that may require costly repairs. Roof inspections are a must in winter. Roofs are more exposed to snow, and the threat of acting as a catalyst for additional roof damage increases. Snow-covered roofs can hide Warning signs, so you should have snow removed before having Arizona Certified Home Inspectors come over for an inspection.

The best way to inspect the roof is using a drone or, even better, by going on top of the roof if easily accessible. This allows the inspector to see any potential problems that may aggravate due to winter conditions.

Roof inspections are not just for wintertime. Homeowners need to inspect their roofs after the snow has melted to find any major damages that may have occurred from snow accumulation or from heavy winds or storms.

Checking For Winter Drafts

The heating system is the most crucial aspect of keeping a home warm during the winter season. Many factors affect your home’s heating in the winter. Drafts are one such issue because they can cause room parts not to heat up properly. In some cases, drafts may even cause ice to form on windows and other surfaces.  Drafts can come through gaps around doors or windows that allow air from outside to enter the house. A home inspector will check for all entry points or leaks from where drafts may enter your home. Sealing these gaps with weather stripping is advised so that air from outside will have a more challenging time entering your home.

During an inspection, the HVAC system is also inspected to figure out problems affecting its ability to heat specific areas or rooms in your house uniformly.

Winter Plumbing Issues

During winters, the external temperature is below the freezing point of water. This causes water to freeze and expand pipes, leading to blockages and backups. If you notice any sign of plumbing problems, such as a leak or a clogged drain, contact an inspector at the first sign to avoid leaking or bursting water lines. Inspectors check if all exposed pipes are insulated to prevent damage. A home inspection also checks furnaces and water heaters to see if they function optimally.

Advantage Inspections is the largest and most trusted company among all Arizona home inspection companies. Our home inspection company in Phoenix, AZ, boasts of the best home inspectors who have performed over 125,000 inspections.

When you get a home inspection from us, expect a fully-detailed inspection that includes a report with detailed information on the condition of your home. You’ll receive a complete report at the end of your inspection detailing potential problems and maintenance recommendations. We’re committed to providing reliable and affordable Commercial Building Inspection in Phoenix, AZ. We give you more than just an inspection and provide you with peace of mind. Our inspectors are experts at what they do and will answer any questions you might have. You’ll get full access to our customer service team before, during, and after the inspection from us.