As colder weather sets in, humans don warmer clothes. Our homes require similar cladding if they are to last through the cold spell without structural damage.

From checking that the heating system is in working condition to taking care of the wiring and piping, these are the essential home improvements that will help your home get through winter.

Its majesty, the thermostat

When the temperature outside drops below zero, it’s essential that the heating inside your home operates impeccably. The best way to heat up your home and save energy at the same time is to install a smart thermostat.

This small device enables you to regulate the temperature in every room of the house, heating the areas where you spend most of the time and using less power on sections of the house that require less warmth, such as the basement of the attic.

If you have plans for the winter holidays or you are going away for a week on another business, then the thermometer can shut off the heat entirely. This eco-friendly solution saves energy and it helps you keep the utility bills low.

Insulating the attic 

We have mentioned attic space before because most homes don’t heat the attic as there is no insulation up there. However, heat loss through the roof is not insignificant, as nearly a quarter of the heat loss leaves the home through the roof. You can use the last months of fall to insulate the attic and significantly reduce heat loss during winter.

Ducts, filters, and smoke detectors

Contrary to popular belief, fire safety is more important during winter than any other period of the year, even summer. All the power you use to heat the home, whether it’s the underfloor heating or the radiators, increases the chances of poor insulation leading up to a house fire.

You should conduct a check of all the air vents, ducts, filters, and smoke detectors to make sure they are fully operational. The kitchen hood, for example, can easily become clogged from all the grease, so it can jam, filling the house with dangerous fumes. At these times, that one AA battery in your smoke detector becomes a lifesaver!

The advantages of rendering

Insulation is one way to prevent heat loss but house rendering is just as efficient. If the façade of your home is crumbling away, the insulation material underneath won’t perform its primary role. Furthermore, cement house rendering is the ideal way to beautify your home before it starts snowing. High-quality renders have the power to overturn the look of any residential structure.

Weatherproofing doors and windows

You can have the best insulation on the planet but unless your doors and windows close well, you will lose heat in winter. Sensing a cold draft means that the doors need to be mounted with a gasket at the bottom and the windows need to be resealed. Luckily, hardware stores and DIY center have non-VOC sealants you can use on your own, saving on the cost of professional assistance.

Updating the home entertainment system

Speaking of snow, there is hardly anything cozier than settling in front of the fireplace to binge your favorite TV show. However, if the last time you updated your entertainment system was back in the 90s, then you won’t be able to enjoy modern movies or streaming services. A Netflix subscription is only useful if you have a widescreen TV and a sound system to match.

Why investing in a new countertop is a good idea

You might not think of purchasing a new kitchen countertop as a pre-winter improvement. However, during the cold weather spell, you are going to be spending more time indoors cooking, so the old countertop might fail, as granite countertops often chip away at the edges.

Back in the days before the granite boom, countertops used to be made from raisin and quartz which are both durable materials that you might give a go (not to mention they are cheaper than high-end granite countertops). 

Inspecting and insulating pipes

We presume that there are no leaks in your bathroom. However, regular maintenance is important for the home’s exterior as well. Namely, there are hundreds of meters of piping that run underneath your house and many of them run through air or ground.

Depending on the period your home was built in, some of these pipes might not have insulation, making them susceptible to frost. The pipes can freeze overnight and rapid thaw in the morning, creating tiny fissures that are a disaster waiting to happen when the pipe bursts.

Preparing your home for winter should become an annual routine. After a couple of years of regular improvements no matter how small in scale they are, you will notice that your home is less affected by the bitter old outside. 

Author's Bio: 

Mia Johnson is a writer with a ten-year-long career in journalism. She has written extensively about health, fitness, and lifestyle. A native to Melbourne, she now lives in Sydney with her 3 dogs where she spends her days writing and taking care of her 900 square feet garden.