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If you are living in your log cabin full-time, or leaving it vacant for winter – there’s plenty that you’ll need to do to avoid problems in the spring, or worse winter. Winter preparation, as well as year-round maintenance, is necessary for the longevity of your Log Home. Winter tends to sneak up on us until we get a cold blast, so if you find yourself scrambling as these cold days, here are a few quick things to inspect.
Make sure to clean the outside of your home. The exterior cleaning includes the logs, as a build-up of dirt can cause stains. If this step was not done in the fall, do a quick spot check for any significant areas needing attention. During this process be on the lookout for any gaps in your logs. Not only do gaps invite pests, but they can also leave your home drafty and you will quickly lose precious heat. Use caulk to seal small cracks. Another exterior check is your gutters. You will want to make sure they are free of debris and are directing water away from your home. As stated in many previous blog posts, water can cause extreme damage to your home.
In the wintertime, pipes are prone to freeze, especially in places like basements, attics, or crawl spaces (these get the coldest).Checking your pipes for vulnerability is an absolute priority. They could burst, leaving you with a plumbing emergency. Make sure that your pipes are well-insulated and check for areas that may need to be reinforced. Even if you’ve never had issues with your pipes before, check them every year to be sure that there are no new problem areas.
It’s also a good idea to clean your fireplace and ensure that you have enough fire-friendly wood and coal to keep it burning.
Hopefully, you’ve taken care of all or many of these during your winter or annual maintenance checkup. 888-log-guys can add you to our client annual maintenance checklist to ensure your home endures and that you do not have any unfortune winter home repair emergencies!
