While we’d all rather be focusing on decorating our lake house for the holidays, it’s crucial for any lake home owner to have tools to address these practical winter problems. The fall of 2019 certainly has not been a typical one for East Tennessee. We seemed to skip right by the beautiful autumn days and plunge right into winter. Without much snow, our beautiful winter weather may have minimal impact on you lake house. However, if you live on the lake you can still do seasonal maintenance to ensure it is in the best shape for next years lake fun!
At Lakefront Living, we’re here to help with tips for managing cold weather concerns at your lake house. Whether you live on the lake year round or it’s your second home, we know first-hand the importance of a little maintenance when the weather outside is frightful. Use this helpful checklist to ensure your doing everything you need to this winter:
Indoor Home Maintenance
To make sure that your lake house interior is ready for winter, it’s crucial to maintain your heating systems. From stoves to chimney drafts, it may be a good idea to have a technician help inspect your heating systems so that you’ll be able to keep your place warm. Windows and doors are also a major culprit of letting the cold in, so it’s important to insulate your windows for the winter. Even small window cracks can make a big difference in the indoor temperature.
1. Schedule HVAC Maintenance – Scheduling a yearly furnace inspection will reduce the likelihood of a breakdown during a freeze. Even newly built homes should have it inspected at least every other year.
2. Replace Furnace Filters – Replacing furnace filters every 3 to 4 months makes your heating system run more efficiently, distributing heat better and cutting down your energy costs.
3. Seal Drafts – Seal drafts (you can find them using a candle – watch for dancing flames) and then seal cracks around windows and doors to lower your heating costs over the winter.
4. Drain and Flush Water Heater – Drain and flush your water heater once a year to remove sediment (minerals like magnesium and calcium) that can force the system to work harder to heat your water.
5. Insulate Pipes – Insulate exposed pipes with fiberglass or foam sleeves, which can be purchased at most home improvement stores.
Outdoor Lake Home Maintenance
6. Clean Gutters – Clean gutters of leaves and check that gutters and downspouts are clear of obstructions so they’ll direct water away from the foundation, walkways, and driveways. The combination of leaves and possibly snow in your gutters will make quite a mess.
7. Inspect Your Roof – Look for damaged or missing roof tiles and when you head back inside check in the attic for evidence of leaks or anything coming loose. Spotting and repairing a roof leak now saves you the cost of patching it throughout the winter.
8. Finish Seasonal Lawn Care – This includes draining your sprinkler system, turn off faucets, store hoses, and cover faucets. If you did not get an early start you will likely be doing additional lawn care in the spring.
9. Check Your Deck – Clean off fallen leaves and other debris, look for missing or rusted bolts, boards that need to replaced and signs of rot, which could worsen over a long, wet winter. Don’t forget to check railings as well!
10. Dock Maintenance and Property Store Boats – Proper storage of all of your lake gear and lake toys are essential to have it in top performance next spring. Check out our boat winterizing specific blog HERE.
Most of these items, with the exception of HVAC maintenance, can be completed by the average homeowner. If you don’t feel comfortable doing any of these things on your own, hire a licensed professional. Once you have completed your checklist, settle in and enjoy your East Tennessee home!
Between the holidays and winter sports, the winter months turn out to be ideal for certain lake home improvements and maintenance projects—and if you’re planning for a spring or summer home sale, it’s never too early to get started with your home prep.
Looking for more resources to get your Tennessee lake house and boat ready for winter and future sale?
- CLICK HERE for improvements to get your home ready to go on the market in Spring!
- CLICK HERE to know exactally how to winterize your lake home
- CLICK HERE for winterizing your boat!
Posted by Polly Harrison, Lakefront Living, On The Lake Realty