Make Your Home Winter-Ready for the Cold Season

In the lane, snow is glistening… And it’s going to be more evident by the time snowflakes start to fall. Depending on your area, cold season is a great dilemma. For one thing, you have to re-organize almost the entire house just to be ready for the temperature drop.

So much for building a snowman, it is a-must that you should winterize your home above all, to uphold convenience even in the midst of the gloomy and oftentimes harsh weather.

Here are some quick, useful and easy steps on winterizing your humble abode this cold season:

Garage and Driveway

Garage is basically the frontliner of your house, so it is understandable and pretty basic to winterize this part of the house first. First thing to do is to check the working condition of the garage door. That includes quick repair for minor dents, holes and seal gaps. Next is to ensure your tools are well-stored, complete with silica gel to prevent rusting. Snow salt is notorious for its power to give the worst case of rusting, so better keep your tools and garage equipment safe. In addition, lube up door hinges and brackets by applying grease or oil on it to.

As for the driveway, keep a trusty shovel or ice blower in handy to blow off snow accumulation. Moreover, if pavements and concrete surface have cracks, make sure to fix it weeks before the start of the season. Lastly, clear off your roof and gutter from leaves and other debris that may and can block off snow and water buildup.

Above all, keep in mind to ready your trusty vehicle cover to protect your ride from the harsh snow-and-salt as well.

Inside the House

Homeowners tend to take this task for granted, but believe us when we say that doing this detailed task will benefit you in terms of saving money for far more extensive after-winter repairs and pest controls. Initially, keep your house a bit warmer by installing additional insulations. Next is to check the walls and ceilings for leaks. Snow can be nasty, especially when it melts away and seeps through small gaps of the house.

And speaking of leaks, might as well check your pipeworks for cracks and leaks. It is during this time that most pipes –especially the metal ones – are prone and vulnerable to breakage and rusting. And while you’re at it, you might want to extend an extra effort of adding extra protection to your pipes by wrapping them up with heating tapes.

Additionally, make sure to close all shafts and windows in the basement and attic to prevent insects and other animals to invade your warm space.

Patio/Backyard

Another vulnerable part of the house, you might say. Although, much simpler to winterize this part of the house. All it takes is to give it a nice, efficient sweeping. Next step is to blanket your cozy furniture and fixtures with heavy-duty furniture covers, including the patio umbrella, barbecue grill and air conditioning system.

Chimney and Fireplace

Finally, this is also the perfect time to gather wood fuel and brush off backyard debris to your fire pit, fireplace and chimney for the cold season. But before sparking a match on it, it is vital to inspect your fireplace and/or chimney for excess creosote deposits and other fire hazards that could impose accidents. It’s quite obvious you will be using this quite a lot for the next coming months, so it is recommended to go through with this preventive maintenance to avoid unwanted winter disasters.

Why The Need to Cover Your Air Conditioning System

There has been a long clash of expertise between seasoned air conditioning maintenance specialists, as to whether or not you should cover our air conditioning system’s outside unit, especially during the cold season. Some say YES because it protects the condenser from elements and dirt particles, while others say NO because it will accumulate moisture from the inside.

So to answer this once and for all, here are some key points to consider and the proper way to cover your air conditioning unit:

Air conditioner covers act as shield against elements and harsh weather

Air conditioner covers are made from the finest heavy-duty water repellent fabric materials like denier polyester to ensure the mint condition of your home cooling system by preventing it from being weather-beaten. So much for accumulated ice that will eventually melt and may “flood” and damage your unit’s inner components, snow water may also cause rust, wire deterioration, freezing of mechanism or worse, short circuit.

In addition, aircon covers deter other dirt elements and substances that may damage its metal casing, and even the inside mechanism once these damaging agents enter through the grills, such as tree branches, leaves, dust, eroded earth, even animal droppings. Quite nasty, right?

Cover it. But don’t leave it entirely there!

It is very important to take note of this. For one thing, your air conditioning unit releases heat accumulated by the compressor and condenser. This becomes an instant VIP access to rodents, insects and other animals lurking around the area to find warmth. What’s more, leaving the cover entirely could cause moisture to be trapped, and cause condensation which may also damage the internal components of the air conditioner.

To avoid such occurrence, just make it a point to take off the cover every once in a while, especially during daytime, and it’s not that snowy. During the summer, you may want to keep your covers for a while, as it won’t be any much of a need during this season. As a stand-in, you may instead put plywood on top of the unit during the day, and dress it by night time.  This will also allow the condenser and the compressor to “breathe”.

YES or NO?

The final verdict? Yes, it is still recommended to use a trusty cover to retain your air conditioning system’s cosmetics and overall working form, provided that owners have to take into consideration the status of the weather and the general condition of your location according to seasons. Moreover, they also need to know the right time and circumstance to strip off the unit from its cover.

Most aircon experts would probably dispute this, as they’ll say it is not really necessary to put a cover to your unit because the components are made from impervious materials. For us, we beg to disagree, because our bottomline is: It is in our best interest to protect and prolong the longevity of your air conditioning system. And these heavy-duty outdoor covers by Formosa guarantees total protection for your home and leisure investments to ensure convenience and carefree living.

Choosing the Right Furniture for Your Patio

Just because you have the right furniture covers for your patio chairs, tables and other fittings, one cannot simply appoint an all-leather Barcalounger with steel details on a roofless courtyard alongside your barbecue equipment. Given that the particular sofa sets perfectly complements the countryside vibe of your patio, you must also consider its use and versatility when it comes to ever-changing outdoor conditions.

When it comes to deciding, the first thing to consider is the materials. Never pick a furniture set that is extremely vulnerable to weather conditions such as cushioned and leather finished, especially for patios without the aid of any shade.

The bottom line here is to get your money’s worth. Know the right furniture for your patio.

Your Butt will Tell You the Right Furniture

Regardless of aesthetics and overall design considerations, rule of thumb when buying furniture set – in this case, for your patio – is comforting, otherwise what’s the use of setting up tables and chairs there, right? Get to know the chair better by sitting on it, then let your “behind” do the decision-making. If you see (and feel) yourself being stuck there for 3 hours straight, reading a book while having coffee, and still feel good as opposed to feeling all cramped up; then that’s the perfect furniture for you.

Materials Matter

It’s fine to pick a way more expensive patio furniture set. But if you’re on a tight budget, going for a sturdy and low-maintenance set that can outlast extremities such as humidity, sudden rain and mist is definitely a best-buy. Metal and wood can give you the lasting firmness, but of a pricey deal because of its intricacies in design and timely maintenance.

On the other hand, wicker, especially the synthetic ones, can be used to uphold the homey, classy garden look of your patio while maintaining its durability overtime because of its weather-resistant characteristics. Also, reinforced plastic (polyurethane and polypropylene) is an advisable choice for outdoor furniture because of its durability, portability, all-weather formidability and cost-effective characteristics. Maintenance-wise, these materials are easier to maintain than metal and wood.

Color Coordination

This is important because, let’s face it. Nobody wants to see a dull, “offensive” furniture set fitted in a welcoming patio. Know your color palate and don’t just resort to playing safe by taking a neutral-toned furnishings. After all, you’re in a vibrant space and might as well spruce it up with color. But take note: DO NOT OVER-DO IT.

Weigh its Usability

The patio is one of the most versatile part of the house. Ergo, it requires a dependable set of outdoor furniture. House chill out activities ranging from barbecuing, family lunch, Saturday poker with friends to plain newspaper and coffee time every afternoon. Choose a furniture set that can do most of these jobs done, whether for just plain relaxation or for accommodating a party of 10.

Reciprocate by Taking Care of Your Set

Once you’ve purchased the right set of furnishings for your patio, perhaps it wouldn’t be much of a thing to give an extra effort in taking care of your chairs and tables by cleaning it every once in a while. You may consider storing it properly during winter season or put a dependable outdoor cover when not in use to say the least.