Category Archives: Home Maintenance

9 Ways to Add Value to Your Home

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how to a. value to your home


Your home – not only does it provide shelter for you and your belongings – but is also an investment of your money. Here are nine tips to increase your home’s value with updates, repairs and cosmetic changes:

1. Create More Space in your Home
Buyers look for open spaces in homes. You may be able to take down a non-structural wall to open up space and create a better flow in your home. Or, you might be able to have an addition. to increase square footage.

The number of bedrooms has a large impact on a home’s value. If your neighboring homes have four bedrooms, your home should have the same number.

If you live in an area where many homes lack a garage, consider adding one. The most valuable garages are attached to the home, but you may need to opt for a free-standing one. 

2. Landscaping
Neat and tidy landscaping looks appealing. If you have weeds and bushes that have grown too tall, you need to pull and prune. By planting attractive trees, bushes or flowers, you can add value to your home. HomeGain.com cites that an investment of $400 into landscaping can bring a return of four times that amount.

3. Light the Way
Lighting is important to home buyers and can add even more appeal to your home. Make sure your lighting features are up-to-date. Read more about lighting here.

4. Maintain
Have your “to do” list of repairs for your home and check those items off as you keep your home in good repair. (Repair plumbing leaks, inspect the furnace, weed the flower beds, etc.)

If you live in an older home, make sure the plumbing and electrical is up-to-date. Maintaining basement and foundation issues is important. Leaks and cracks need to be investigated. 

5. Think Green
“Green” energy efficiencies are desirable by home buyers and can save you money. 

6. Front Door and Curb Appeal
A home’s first impression starts with the front door. Make your front yard and porch look fabulous. 

7. Flooring
An upgrade in flooring will add more value when it is time to sell.

8. Upgrade the Bath
Some easy bathroom improvements include cleaning or replacing the grout, updating doorknobs and cabinet pulls, replacing faucets, and installing a new toilet.

9. Paint
Painting is one of the most economic ways to update your home. Be sure to use a neutral color if you planning to sell your home. It will appeal to more home buyers.

Need help with your home maintenance or renovations? Contact Sibcy Cline Home Services. They can put you in touch with many service vendors!

 

13 Things To Avoid When Selling Your Home

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Mistakes to avoid when selling your home

When preparing your home to sell, you need to spend time and effort to get your home staged and updated to appeal to buyers. You want your home to stand out and shine among all other homes for sale.

Here are 13 mistakes to avoid when listing your home ready to sell:

1. Clinging to Clutter 
We know you love your stuff. It has meaning to you. Buyers, however, will not appreciate your things. Clutter makes it difficult for buyers to imagine their things in your home. You need to either throw things away, sell them or store items away offsite while your home is on the market.

2. Not Upping Your Homes Value with Updates
We are not talking about tackling major home projects, but updates such as a new backsplash in the kitchen, replacing faucets or light fixtures or simply repainting a room or two can add more appeal to your home.

3. You Have Blocked Light and Views 
If a piece of furniture is blocking a window in a room, you need to move it – especially if the outside view is attractive. Make rooms sunny and light filled by opening curtains and blinds.

4. Painting Only To Your Taste 
You loves the deep purple accent wall in your family room – but will others adore it like you do? Probably not. Walls should be painted in neutral colors with beige, grey or pale green tones.

5. Staying Emotionally Attached
Selling your home can be an emotional time, especially if you have spent many years enjoying it. When your home is for sale, you need to have a thick skin as others may not feel the same as you do about its features. Do not take criticism about your home personally.

6. Staying Home When Your Home Is Shown
When buyers tour your home it is awkward if you are in the home. They may not want to stay and see what your home has to offer. You need to leave for all showings.

7. Pets in the House
Take your pets with you when your home is shown. The buyer touring may have a fear or allergy of your pet and be turned off or even refuse to enter the home with the pet inside. (And remember, all pet food bowls and toys should be hidden away. Pet stains and odors also need to be addressed.)

8. Overdoing It With Decor
Staging a home to sell is different from decorating it. Accessories need to be kept to a minimum.

9. Not Neutralizing Your Personal Style
Your home needs to show in a neutral style to appeal to the masses. If you have a special collection or a room that was converted for a special hobby, you need to remove the objects and bring that room back to its original purpose. Think luxury hotel room or new home model.

10. You Do Not Have a Green Thumb
The front yard is the first thing people will see when entering the home. You need to make the landscaping look fresh and neat. Flowers and outdoor furniture add to the ambiance of an outdoor space.

11. Your Closets are Stuffed
Yes, buyers are going to check out your closets. They need to be de-cluttered and organized. The same goes for the bathroom and kitchen cupboards and pantry.

12. Putting Off Cleaning
If cleaning is not at the top of your list of things to do, it needs to be when you home is on the market. All things need to be put away. Dishes are to be washed. Beds should be nicely made. The kitchen and bathrooms are to be spotless.

13. Neglecting the Garage and Basement 
The garage needs to be clean and tidy. So does the basement.

Home Improvements: What to Do and What to Avoid

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Shopping cart in a hardware store

Planning on updating your home? Before you make changes, consider if the updates will bring value to your home when it’s time to sell. Here are some tips to consider:

Kitchen
If you have a kitchen that has seen better days an update may be the right thing to do. A total renovation can be expensive so consider cosmetic changes before committing to any major updating.

Budget Friendly Changes:
1. If cabinets are in good condition, paint them and add new hardware. (If the cabinet face needs updating, have them replaced and then painted.)
2. Update the hardware and/or sink.
3. Missing a backsplash? This is an easy update to make. See how to here.
4. New appliances can make a big change in a kitchen. Just do not go overboard with the brand.

Bathrooms
Bathrooms are one of the most popular home-improvement projects for home owners. And, it’s a project that can pay off! Keep your renovation simple with paint, new lighting and fresh caulk. If you keep your update under $5,000, you might turn a profit when selling.

If you need more extensive work in the bathroom, do not go overboard with the tub, shower and floor.

Lighting
Avoid fancy “to taste” lights and chandeliers. Trendy lighting can be “in” one day and “out” the next. New lights can be relatively inexpensive and make a large impact. Consider replacing light bulbs with brighter, more efficient ones. While you are at it, purchase new light switch covers.

Wallpaper
Although you may love your wallpaper selection, the next home buyer may not. Stick to paint – it’s safer.

Tiling
Over-personalized tile may be a mistake for a home renovation depending upon the taste of the next homeowner. Keep your tile installation neutral. Then add a colorful or quirky rug to place on top.

Bedrooms
The number of bedrooms is important when selling a home. If you have been considering converting a bedroom or widening a bedroom into another, think again. It might be better to put renovation dollars into another project.

Windows
If the windows are efficient and in good shape, consider adding trim to give that wow factor. Molding works wonders.

Interior Doors
Have your doors and their hardware seen better days? Think about replacing doors them. Having matching doors will make your interior spaces feel more cohesive and appealing. (Consider fire resistant materials for bedroom doors.) Watch this video and follow instructions from the Family Handyman if you enjoy DIY projects.

Carpet
Before installing wall-to-wall carpet, think about using hardwood or laminate flooring instead. People prefer these type of materials over carpeting. A new carpet will only remain “new” for a short period of time.

Front Door
New doors can be expensive. If your front door is in good condition, consider updating the hardware. Add a new welcome mat and you will be set.

Landscaping
Curb appeal is very important when selling your home, but there is a fine line of overdoing landscaping projects. High-maintenance gardens could be daunting to prospective buyers. Keep it simple: add new flowers and plants and be sure to pull weeds. Add walkway lights.

Sun Room Addition
This type of home addition can be expensive and you usually only recoup half of what you spend.

Hobby Rooms
Rooms converted for hobbies (ie: sewing rooms, man caves, home gyms, themed bedrooms, etc…) take a generic room and change its focus on that single hobby or interest. What you spend for your enjoyment may leave few interested buyers in the future.

If you do want to pursue having a hobby room, consider changes that are easy to remove when you sell.

Built-In High-Tech Installations
Customized electronics and built-in technology can quickly become outdated and bring down the value of your home. A home theater is a safe bet, but avoid adding a custom fish tank or expensive techie items.

New Deck
A new deck costs an average for $17,000 (per Remodeling’s Cost vs Value Report.) If your deck is in good condition, consider staining or painting it to freshen it up. Add lighting to your deck to create ambiance. This can be a DIY project.

Garage
Garage conversions will not work in your favor. People want garages for their cars and storage. If you make it into a bedroom, study, gym or other type of room, home buyers will want it converted back. Simply paint the garage floor to freshen it up and add storage shelves if needed.

Pool/Hot Tub
A luxury item such as a pool or hot tub are great to enjoy during hot summer days, but when selling your home, they might not pay off. In-ground pools are expensive, require maintenance and treatment. The same goes for a hot tub. Remember, not everyone wants to take care of a pool or hot tub.

Ultimately when making changes to your home, you need to ask: “Am I remodeling for my quality of life or to increase my home’s value or resale price?”

Need assistance with your home update project? Contact Sibcy Cline Home Services. They have vetted pros who can help!


Great Lighting – Increase Your Home’s Value!

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Lighting ideas for your home

If you are getting your home ready to sell, think about how the use of lighting can help make it more appealing and increase in value. Here are some things to think about when staging your home:

Living area with large windows

Take Advantage of Natural Sunlight
If your home has rooms with large windows, open up the blinds and curtains to take advantage of the light that can pour into your home. Swap out heavier drapes for lighter-weight fabric so light can shine through them. Use sheers to diffuse light it the room is too sunny.

Large mirror in a hallway

Use Mirrors
Carefully positioned mirrors can help to redirect sunlight into rooms without sunny windows.

Highlight Positive Features 
Accent or targeted lighting can draw attention to your home’s best features. Have an accent niche and highlight it!

Lighting ideas for your home

Update Lighting
Consider updating the lighting in your kitchen and include under-cabinet recessed lighting – a very popular trend in kitchen design. Use an up-to-date chandelier in your dining room to give it a fresh look. Remove the tired (or ugly) shades from your lamps and replace with new ones. Target has great deals on shades. Add unexpected lighting – like a table lamp on a kitchen countertop. This addition can add warmth to the space.

Adequate Lighting
When staging a home to sell, usually “less is more”, but with lighting, more is best. Try using multiple light sources in a room with overhead lights, sconces as well as lamps or can lighting focused on wall art.

Need help hanging your lights? We can recommend local electricians through Sibcy Cline Home Services.

Winterize Your Home Now So You Can Sell This Spring

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Tips to winterize your home

It’s important  for homeowners to keep their homes in the best shape possible during the winter season and be prepared as potential listings for the spring. A little bit of work to winterize properties before colder weather really sets in can go a long way toward keeping a home in great shape.

Start Indoors
There are plenty of ways to winterize a home and the simplest usually start indoors. For instance, by simply checking and swapping out old furnace filters (which are available at a relatively low cost) homeowners can both improve the quality of the air in their homes and make those furnaces run far more efficiently.

Don’t forget to drain the water pipes that run water outdoors. Whether it’s a spigot that comes out of the side of the house or an underground sprinkler system, flushing them out at this time of year is vital. Otherwise, they can burst, leading to lots of water damage and costly repairs.

Where Inside Meets Outside
Homeowners may not be aware, but a primary cause of high heating bills is cracked seals around doors and windows. These can be small, but across an entire house can add up to be equal to the size of leaving a window open. Going through the home and inspecting the frames around windows and doors for cracks or fissures, then closing them up with weather stripping or a sealant, will make a home heating more efficient.

Make sure the roof is in good shape before the first snowfall or cold rain. If there are damaged shingles, replace them, and if gutters are clogged with fallen leaves or other debris, clean them out. In a lot of cases, a small issue on the roof can lead to big problems if left unaddressed.

Owners of older homes should evaluate their insulation situation. If it hasn’t been changed out in a decade or more, now might be the right time to do it. Often, homeowners might not even notice the difference over the years, but putting in new insulation could really help them save on their heating (and cooling) costs for years to come.

Out in the Yard
This time of year is the right one to go around your yard and see if there are any hazards, such as rotting trees or big, overhanging branches. Weighted down with snow, they could fall and do damage to your house or other parts of the property. Taking some time now (before the first big snowfall of the year) to trim them back or have them removed altogether can help avoid what would otherwise be some rather costly damage.

It’s also important to have plenty of products on hand to keep walkways clear – with deicers and shovels and perhaps even a snowblower – so guests and family members can keep their footing even when conditions aren’t ideal.

When Selling a Home
Many homeowners who plan to sell within the next few months may not think of all these aspects of winterizing as being particularly vital, but if something were to go wrong with their plumbing, roof, siding or any other part of the home, that could really hurt their sales prospects.

 

Learn About Power Generators for Your Home

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home generator

Home generators offer a solution to power up your home when there are outages. You can keep the refrigerator running, lights on and air conditioning going. Here are some tips to consider when purchasing a home-generator system:

How Much Power?
Think about how much power your large essential appliances need. Refrigerators, air conditioning, sump pumps and electric water heaters will have the highest power draw and are some of the most essential items you want to have live during power outages.

Many generator manufacturers will have online wattage calculators to help you determine what size you will need. Or, calculate the number by finding the wattage rating for each appliance. It will say: “Starting Watts” (how much power used when first turned on) and “Running Watts” (how much power used once running.) If only the “Running Watts” is listed, multiply that number by three. A small- to medium-sized home usually averages 5,000 to 7,500 watts.

Here are some sample appliances and their average watts:
Refrigerator: 600 watts
Sump Pump: 1,500 watts
Portable Heater: 1,500 watts
Window A/C: 1,000 watts
Lights: 60–600 watts
Computers: 60–300 watts

Size of the Generator and Noise
You will need to place the generator close to your home. Fire protection code requires a generator to be five or more feet away from doors and windows. Smaller generators are permitted to be 18 inches from an exterior wall. (Larger generators are around 30″x30″x48″. Smaller versions are 24″x24″x36″.)

The noise factor will be a consideration in what type of generator you purchase. Most generators have an average of 60 to 70 decibels. By comparison a vacuum cleaner usually has 70-80 decibels.

Fuel for the Generator
Generators either use liquid propane, natural gas or both Propane gas is affordable and burns “clean”. It’s easy to find at hardware stores, gas stations and many grocery stores. Generators that run from natural gas can be tied to the home’s natural gas line.

Solar-Powered Generator
There are solar-powered generators to consider as well. This innovative system is connected to a breaker panel. It can provide about 3000 Watt hours. Solar panels and expansion batteries can be added to recharge for endless power. Systems range from $2,200 up to $8,000. Read more about this type of generator.

Benefits of a Home Generator
A home generator good for 5,000+ watts will be set to take over (with its Automatic Transfer Switch) as soon as power goes out. Some models have a remote start button.

Pricing
Smaller units with up to 2,000 watts cost between $400 and $1,000. They are the lightest type of generator and can be easily transported.

Mid-sized units with up to 3,500 watts range from $1,000 and $1,700. This type of equipment can keep the refrigerator and lights running for 8–18 hours using 2–3 gallons of gas. If you rarely have black outs, this might be an option for your home.

If you rarely have black outs, a Portable Generator is another good option. These type of devices provide power to specific appliances such as the refrigerator. With up to 7,500 watts, the price will range from $700–$2,800. (Note: many of these generators can weigh up to 300 pounds!) If you use this type of generator, you will need to be careful about protection from rain or snow.

Large Inverter systems have up to 7,500 watts and cost $1,400–$4,000. These type of appliances are quiet and fuel efficient. They can provide enough power for your refrigerator and small air-conditioning system. They run on stabilized gasoline. Large inverter generators are best for homes with frequent or prolonged power outages.

Home Standby generators have up to 20,000 watts and cost $2,000–$6,000 and will weigh up to 600 pounds. Installation costs can be as much as the cost of the generator. These systems need to be installed permanently next to your home. They run on natural gas or propane. This system should not be exposed to flood-prone areas.

Read more about selecting a home generator here.

Home-Generator Safety Tips:

  1. Portable generators can produce high levels of carbon monoxide. Be sure to have carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in your home. They should have battery back-up to assure they will work during a power outage.
  2. A generator should be placed at least 20 feet from the home with the exhaust pointing away from any windows and doors. Never run a portable generator inside your home.
  3. The generator should be on level ground or a pad, with a generator tent in place to keep it out of the rain. Most generator manufacturers suggest and sell tents for their products.
  4. The generator needs to be properly grounded so it won’t electrify the puddles of water or wet ground adjacent to it.
  5. Never “backfeed” your home. You can risk electrocution risk to utility workers using the same transformer or can start a fire. (Backfeeding means powering your home electrical systems by plugging the generator into a wall outlet.)
  6. Allow time for the generator to cool before refilling it with fuel.
  7. Check the fuel line periodically for signs of wear or cracks that could cause a fuel leak and subsequent fire.
  8. Plug only essential appliances such as a refrigerator or freezer directly into the generator outlets. Use a heavy-duty cord when connecting to an appliance.
  9. Consider having an electrician install a transfer switch directly into the existing circuit breaker panel that can help feed electricity to areas of the entire residence.
  10. The generator should be started periodically to check it is operational with sufficient fuel and oil to operate quickly and safely.
  11. If you use a propane or gas-fueled generator, have extra fuel on your property. Store in an approved container in a cool, well-ventilated place. Adding a stabilizer will help the gas last longer.

    Need help getting your home’s electric system ready for your home generator? Contact Sibcy Cline Home Services. They can recommend a vetted electrician to help you.

How To Prepare Your Garage for an Electric Car

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Get your garage ready for an electric car

Electric car sales have been growing and with rising gas prices, many people are considering an electric one for their next vehicle purchase. In the U.S., currently under 1% of all cars are fully electric. However, hybrid vehicles have had a 76% increase in sales and there has been an 83% increase for fully electric cars. By end of 2022, it is expected that 5% of all car sales will be electric vehicles.

With an all-electric car, finding a charging station is a concern. Having a personal charging station housed in the garage is what car owners want.

An electric car’s charger is actually buried inside of the vehicle. It takes an AC course from the electric supplied and then converts it to DC so the car’s battery pack is charged. In a garage you will need a wall-mounted box with the cord and plug that supplies those volts of electricity. The system is known as an Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE).

Level 1 and Level 2 Charging Stations
There are a variety of EVSEs available and it is important to choose one that is right for your car. You will want to install either a level one with a 120-volt/12-amp outlet; or a level two that has a 240-volt/20-40-amp outlet. (A 240 EVSE service gives you about 23 miles of range each hour of charging.)

240V (Level 2) Is the Best Option
A 240-volt outlet uses more power in half the time than that of a 120-volt outlet and is best for those who are always driving. (It costs more but will give you more power in less time. It takes between 4 to 9 hours to recharge – depending upon the kind of vehicle you own.)

Installation
An electrician should be involved in the installation of the circuit board and ESVE. If the ESVE is on a shared circuit, other appliances in your home will slow down the car-charging process. Your electrician should:

• Have experience with this type of installation.

• Review where the EVSE should be placed in relation to how your car is parked. You need to consider the length of time the car will be charging and if the cord/car will be in the way during that time period.

• Do a load calculation of all existing circuits. You need to know how much power you have in your home and garage. Make sure the new circuit is capable of 40–50 amps.

• Determine if permits are required prior to installation.

• Once the garage is wired, the charging station should be bolted securely to the wall. Make sure the cord is long enough to reach a car parked outside of the garage (16–25 feet).

Garage Details
Is there climate control in the garage? Electric car batteries do not handle fluctuating weather well. An insulated garage door will prevent the interior temperature from changing too drastically and will help extend a car battery’s life.

Apps
Some systems come with a “Juice Box” app which lets you track how much power your car uses.

Need Helping Installing a Car Charger System in Your Garage?
Contact Sibcy Cline Home Services. They can recommend an electrician with experience.



Quick Tips for Kitchen Redecorating on a Budget

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Tips for updating your kitchen

Here are a couple of great tips for updating your kitchen on a budget:

CHANGE THE LIGHTING
One of the most common problems with older kitchens is harsh or insufficient lighting. Luckily, this is also one of the easiest problems to solve! While it may seem like a daunting task to switch out a hanging light fixture, there are plenty of online guides that will take you through the process. Many homeowners are surprised to find that it’s easy to do. Light fixtures can be very affordable. Most local home improvement stores carry a nice selection of modern fixtures in inexpensive to moderate price ranges, so chances are good that you’ll find something you love.

SWITCH OUT HARDWARE
Another quick fix that will have your kitchen looking great is a hardware upgrade. We’re talking about the hinges, handles and knobs on the faces of your cabinets. For $15 to $30, you can buy all new hardware and install it yourself in an afternoon. Brushed copper or brass is very popular right now, but the most important thing is that you pick something that complements the color of your cabinetry and works with the style of your kitchen.

REPLACE THE FAUCET
With a wrench and some silicone caulk, you can have your new faucet installed and running in half an hour. High-arching, single-handle faucets are most popular, as these styles have technical advantages over their flat, double-handle counterparts. High-arching faucets give you more room to maneuver dishes and pots and single-handle faucets allow more control over water temperature. These are a little more expensive, but a great faucet should cost you around $150 – a small price to pay for serious utility. Bonus points if you pick out a faucet that is functional and unique.

UPDATE THE COUNTERS
Unfortunately, replacing your counters is a big job that requires a real investment. If you’ve just moved in, and are strapped for cash, you may wish to wait until your finances are a little bit more stable. In the meantime, you can still have good looking counters with a little bit of ingenuity.

One option is to cover your counters with a butchers block. If you look around, you can even find butchers block wood that is cut specifically to the size of your counters. Simply rest the block on top and voila – beautiful wood counters. Remember to invest in mineral oil for proper maintenance.

The other option is to paint your counters. This is a little trickier than painting a wall, but easier than you might think. “The Kitchn” blog has a great step-by-step guide to help you through the process.

Once you’re finished, take a look around. We’re betting that you won’t even recognize the kitchen that was there when you moved in.

Not into DIY? Contact Sibcy Cline Home Services for specialists to help with your kitchen updates.

Improvements to Make to Your Home Now Before Selling This Spring or Summer

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Home improvement ideas


It’s winter and you are spending time inside. Now can be a great time to make some improvements, especially if you’ve been thinking about selling your home this spring or summer. Here’s our list of ideas to consider:

Paint Rooms
A fresh coat of paint does a world of wonder. Walls can have wear and tear and painting them will make them look like new again. Consider painting neutral, relatable colors that buyers would prefer.

Wash Windows
Scrub your windows inside (and outside when it’s spring). Gleaming windows will let in the light.

Deep Clean
Clean everything. Dust collects on ceiling fan blades, light fixtures, picture frames and baseboards. Scrub the kitchen top to bottom including the oven and refrigerator.

Declutter
If you are thinking of moving, you will need to pack at some point. Why not get rid of unused items now? This activity should be done room by room. Little by little, your home will be clutter free!

Consider thinning out the amount of furniture you have to make rooms appear larger. Box up extra picture frames and decorations. Either keep or donate them. Be ruthless with getting rid of coats and jackets and other clothing.

Cabinet Upgrade
Kitchen cabinets are a huge selling factor for homes. If yours could use some TLC, you could stain or paint them to give them a refreshed look. Or, just give them a good scrub! Think about replacing knobs and door fronts.

Backsplash
Does your kitchen lack a backsplash? This is a relatively easy way to make an impactful update. Neutral subway tile always looks great.

Faucets
If bathroom or kitchen faucets look dated, replace them. This is an easy weekend project.

Lighting
Replacing light fixtures is another easy project to refresh a room’s look.

Carpeting Cleaning
Well-used carpets might be screaming for a deep clean!

Make Essential Repairs
You could go ahead and hire a home inspector to check out your home to preempt potential snags when selling. The repairs have to be made – may as well cross them off your list.

Curb Appeal
When selling having curb appeal is important. During winter, you will not be able to tend to the landscaping, but perhaps repaint the front door or add a new outside light fixture.

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Home Upgrades – Think First!
Upgrading your home before selling needs to be thoughtfully considered. Your upgrade could lead to a small return value with little enjoyment on your part. It’s always a good idea to consult with your real estate agent before starting a large upgrade project.

Take a look at Remodeling Magazine’s report on investment vs recouping values. You can drill down to a regional or city analysis of 22 home projects. For example, replacing a garage door brings an average of 93% recouped value when selling. On the other hand, a bath remodel adds about 69% for recouped value.


Need help with your home improvement project? Contact Sibcy Cline Home Services. They can recommend vetted pros to help you!.



Your Winter Home-Maintenance Check List

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Caulking WindowWinter is just a few months away. Now is the time for homeowners to take the time to perform one last check of their homes before cold weather really sets in for the next few months. Doing so can help to keep everyone in the house safe and warm, while also saving money and averting potential issues.

Pipes
Perhaps the biggest financial risk homes face during the winter are burst pipes. When that happens, water can spill into the walls and cause a lot of damage long before a problem is even detected. It’s always wise for homeowners to assess where they stand with their water pipes.

Pipes that run along the outside of a home or along the ceiling in the basement and are uninsulated could be at risk. Wrapping them in an economic, specialized material or even towels can help protect them even if a home’s heating system stops working. Wrap your pipes and keep your home at 65 degrees or more. Also, know where your home’s water shutoff is located, so you can quickly shut off your water in an emergency.

Other Insulation
When insulating pipes, it’s also important to make sure you aren’t losing heat through uninsulated attics or other spaces. Since heat rises, you may lose a lot more heated air through ceilings. When attics are properly insulated along floors, they not only help to save on heat, but also prevent potential ice dams from forming undetected on the roof because a warmer roof can lead to snow melting under its surface.

Up on the Roof
When thinking about the roof, it’s a good idea to make sure all tiles or shingles are in good shape; and all gutters are cleared of fallen leaves and other debris that can lead to backups and more potential ice dams. A quick trip up a ladder might be all it takes to identify problem areas before they become major issues.

Inspect Your Home’s Exterior
Inspect the exterior of your home and look for any cracks and holes along the edges of window frames and doorways. Fissures can be filled or covered with caulk, which will help keep the heated air inside this winter. While any individual crack or hole is going to be small, some experts estimate that the collective area of all of them across an entire house can amount to the size of an open window.

Need Help?
If you are not comfortable climbing onto the roof or doing other home-related activity, reach out to Sibcy Cline Home Services. They can make recommendations of vetted vendors to you.