Top Winter Tips to Make Your Home More Comfortable

You clicked on this article, but we bet that deep inside, your brain is screaming “But it’s ONLY August!”

True enough, it’s only late summer but that means fall will be here in a matter of days, and right behind it, old man winter.

Those single-digit temps, freezing rain, and snow galore can really do a number on your house. Winter storms caused $1.1 billion in insured losses in 2020. Imagine the amount including UN-insured housing damage?!

While you can’t foresee everything, at least some winter damage can be avoided if only homeowners took a few hours to give their home a pre-winter checkup.

Take a few minutes to read over our checklist of the top 5 tasks you should investigate before those winter storms hit the greater Chicago area.

Top 5 Winterizing Tips for Your Home

If you’re a Chicago native, then you’ve most likely done outdoor and indoor pipe insulation, you insulate your attic and/or crawl spaces, and you might already have an appointment to have the furnace serviced.

Those are all terrific ways to protect your home, but have you given much thought to the following:

1. Inspect Your Roof

The sad fact is that we receive tons of calls here every winter, usually right after the first big storm of the season, from people who are frantic because the roof is leaking, or it sustained major damage.

As we mentioned before, no one can see the future and know that your neighbors’ tree is going to fall onto the roof over the den, but for some reason, most people only look at their roofs in the spring or summer.

It’s too dangerous for you to properly inspect your roof on your own, so why not call the professionals at A&D? Not only can we inspect your roof for damage, but we can do a full roof replacement if required. We work with all insurance companies and can work around your schedule in most cases.

Inspecting your roof now beats the heck out of a leaking roof or iced-over roof later!

2. Replace/Upgrade Your Windows and Doors

Windows and doors are the main sources of heat loss in almost every home. This is especially true if you still have those old-fashioned wood-framed windows.

The EPA says that the average home can save between $126 and $465 a year (every year) in energy costs by replacing old windows with new Energy Star Windows.

This means that you can recoup the cost of installing new windows within just a few years. The professionals at A&D will be happy to give you an estimate about replacing a few or all the windows in your home.

3. Inspect/Replace Gutters and Downspouts

Gutters that accumulate leaves, twigs, and even animal and bird nests will quickly become clogged with water. When this water freezes, it can cause major damage to your roof, the eves, and even the inside of your home. We install leaf guards to eliminate this problem.

While cleaning out rain gutters might seem easy, some gutters are very high off the ground, especially those on multi-story buildings.

Call A&D to inspect or replace damaged rain gutters before freezing weather hits the area.

4. Replace Old Siding with New Tyvek House Wrap and Siding

Tyvek is a weather barrier that creates a physical separation between the interior and exterior of your home. It greatly reduces air and water leaks, which will prevent those cold drafts and water damage.

Tyvek provides improved energy efficiency, increases comfort levels inside the home, and reduced building maintenance (who doesn’t want more of that!)
Perhaps one of the best things about Tyvek is that it is breathable. This means moisture can evaporate and prevent mold from forming. At the same time, this material prevents air movement through the walls, which helps insulation perform better.

If you want more information and/or an estimate on how Tyvek and new siding can help you save money and be more comfortable in your home, call A&D today.

The last thing you need is another chore to do. Call A&D today and free up your time this fall.

Winter Home Maintenance? Call A&D

A&D is your local home improvement company. We know your area because we live in your neighborhood.

We happily service the greater Chicago area and can offer you fast, reliable service that you can trust. We’ve been in the business for more than 15 years and we are proud of our work!

Whether you love winter weather or start counting the days until spring, winter is on its way.

Why not take a few minutes to call A&D today for an appointment while you are thinking about it? We follow all Covid safety protocols, so you and your family will be completely safe.

Peace of mind is priceless, so give A&D Home Improvement a ring right now. You’ll be really glad that you did.