Winter is here! Prep your home for the cold with these essential home maintenance tips!
Although winter in Houston is mild compared to other parts of the country, it still brings a unique set of challenges for homeowners. With holiday gatherings, fluctuating temperatures, and the possibility of a sudden freeze, December is the perfect time to knock out a few essential monthly home maintenance tasks. Staying ahead of these chores can help keep your home cozy, safe, and running efficiently as we close out the year!
Here are the top winter home maintenance tasks for Houston homeowners to focus on in December:
1. Clean Your Baseboards, Walls, and Doors
If you’re hosting this holiday season, your home is going to see a lot of action. Take a few minutes to give your baseboards, walls, and interior doors a good wipe-down. You’ll be surprised how much dust and grime can build up! Not only will this refresh your space for guests, but it also helps maintain those seasonal allergies with better air quality indoors.
2. Check All Electrical Outlets
Between holiday lights, space heaters, seasonal décor, and extra appliance use, your outlets will work serious overtime this month. Inspect your outlets for loose plates, any heat out-put, discoloration, or anything else that seems off. These simple checks can help prevent electrical hazards and ensure everything is safe for the upcoming season. And trust us, you don’t want your Christmas tree lights going out (or worse—a fire starting) due to a faulty outlet!
3. Clean & Reverse the Spin of Your Ceiling Fans
This is one of the easiest monthly home maintenance tasks with the biggest return. After cleaning any built-up dust on the fan blades, switch your ceiling fans to rotate clockwise at a low speed. This will push warm air down into the space, circulating heat more effectively. This small change helps reduce energy costs and keeps your rooms feeling evenly warm!
4. Wrap Any Exposed Exterior Pipes
If you’ve lived in Houston for long, you know a winter freeze can happen at any moment during the winter, and it can happen fast. Prevent the major consequences of a burst pipe by insulating any and all exposed exterior pipes around your home. A simple layer of foam wrap with insulating tape can help prevent pipes from freezing and/or bursting, which could save you thousands in repairs. Plus, this task is super quick and easy!
Staying on top of these monthly home maintenance tasks will help Houston homeowners protect their investment, reduce long-term repair costs, and enjoy a more comfortable winter season!
If you need help with anything on this December home maintenance checklist, please contact us today to get connected with a professional near you!
Alexis Feezel is a results-oriented Marketing Coordinator responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing all promotional strategies and activities to effectively market clients & listings and maximize sales.