First, start with a visual eyeball inspection form the outside. Walk around if you can see your roof and check for anything unusual looking. If you can't see you roof from the ground, try a pair of binoculars or if you're brave enough to grab a ladder and go on the roof and inspect closer. What are you looking for? Several things: Shingle damage, that is bent, cracked or any shingles that are missing. If you find that you have a lot of these types of issues happening on your roof, it's probably time for a replacement. While it can be costly, water damage could be even more so and detrimental to your interior. If you have skylights, it's important to pay attention to them and make sure they are sealed and don't have any leaking issues. It's also recommended to revie you chimney and any vents. These are also potential area to cause leakage. If you're not able to climb on your roof or not at all comfortable with doing so, you should absolutely call a local roofing professional. It's better to be safe when it comes to this type of inspection. Having professional inspection also gives you peace of mind in deciding when to replace the roof.
It's easy to ignore your gutters and assume they're working properly. In fact, they drain thousands of gallons of water each year. But your gutters need some care and maintenance at least 1-2 times per year. It's important to keep them clear and clean so they can drain as they're designed to do and keep debris from building up around your roof and the edges. By keeping your gutters clean it will prevent major damage to your home. The water needs to always move away from your home especially when we get heavy rain or heavy snow that sits on your roof. Clean them out or hire someone that can.
Poorly insulated windows or even old and outdated windows can create up to 25% heat loss in your home. That can add up to a costly heating bill every year when the cold hits. You have options to combat this issue. Go to your local hardware store and buy a couple tubes of exterior caulk. Make sure it matches your home's exteriors and trim. What you want to do is fill in any visible cracks between window trim and siding. Check around not only the windows, but door frames, pipes or wires for cable that may be exposed. This is a cost-effective way to prevent air leaks and moisture from getting into your home.
Think you may have a drafty window or air leak? If you can't afford new windows, caulking around the window is the obvious strategy to fix this issue. There's also affordable solution on the market for insulating windows, especially older homes whose windows are less efficient. There are window kits on the market with clear, puncture-resistant film. All you need to do is apply the film with double-stick tape and then heat with a blow dryer to seal the film and finalize the finish. This is a temporary solution and homeowners should consider new windows at some point when it fits their budget. Once you make it through the cold months and the Spring begins, the window kit film can be removed easily.
Another simple and sometimes overlooked quick fix is weather stripping. Adding a sticky strip along the bottom of doors on your exterior can be very effective. This can stop moisture build-up and prevent drafts from getting through. Weather stripping can be found at your local hardware store and is easy to apply. No major tools are required for this quick modification.