It’s every landlord’s dream to find great tenants and continue earning a recurring passive income from their rental property for as long as possible. However, that can only be possible if you are proactive in protecting it.
This is especially important during seasonal changes, as different seasons come with their own unique challenges.
A good example is when the cold winter months set in. During this time, you should ensure you protect your investment through proper winterization techniques.
In this article, we’ll cover the benefits of winterizing and how to do it successfully. Keep reading to learn more!
Benefits of Winterizing Your Rentals
Winterizing a property simply means readying it for the cold winter months. The goal is to ensure that the house and all of its components are ready to withstand the rigors that come with cold freezing temperatures.
The following are some of the benefits of winterizing your rentals:
- Save on energy bills. The cold months can be tough on your pocket when it comes to electric bills. Fortunately for you, winterizing can help ensure your home has proper insulation against the freezing temperatures. This will ensure you keep your utility bills low, thereby optimizing your investment’s ROI.
- Prevent property damage. Before the cold weather kicks in, make sure you have inspected key components first to prevent unnecessary repairs later on. Key components and systems to inspect include the HVAC system, plumbing components, fireplace and chimney, and roof.
All it takes is a major ice event or an unexpected snowstorm to wreak havoc on your home’s system. Fortunately, by performing a good winterization process, you can avert such disasters from happening.
Tips on How to Prepare Your Rental for Winter
Winterizing your rental property isn’t exactly rocket science. It’s a fairly simple process that you can easily incorporate into your annual to-do checklist.
Even when interest rates rise, rental properties are still a good investment, and taking steps like these helps protect and maximize your return. The following are proven tips to get you prepared for the cold winter months.
Remove Debris from the Gutters and Downspouts
Blocked gutters and/or downspouts can be a recipe for potential water damage to your property. To avoid water damage, ensure your gutters are clear of debris to prevent overflowing, which can pool water around your house and lead to dangerous ice dams or icicles forming.
As such, as fall comes to an end, make sure to have gutters and downspouts professionally cleaned to remove any debris that might have formed.
Ready the Water Heater
Water heaters will usually account for a significant portion of your utility bills during the cold winter months. Therefore, make sure you take good care of your water heating system to ensure it operates efficiently and helps you save on costs.
Generally, you’ll need to do two things to optimize its efficiency. One of the first things is to flush it before the onset of winter.
This will help achieve a few things. Including, getting rid of sediment and minerals that may have accumulated at the bottom of the heater, removing any corrosion and damage within the tank, and ensuring a consistent supply of hot water.
The other thing to do to your water heater is to add insulation around it to conserve heat. This will help protect the water inside the heater from extreme temperature fluctuations.
Make Ceiling Fans Spin Clockwise
For most people, ceiling fans are only useful during the hot summer months to create a cool breeze. Surprisingly, ceiling fans can also be useful during the cold winter months. But there is a trick; you have to reverse them!
During the cold winter months, the fans should be spinning clockwise and not anticlockwise as is during summer. This will push warm air down and cold air up, reducing your heating costs.
Cover Hose Spigots
Have you installed water spigots on the exterior of your property? If you have, you should remember to winterize them as well. This will involve disconnecting the water hoses, draining the water from the spigot, and covering it with a faucet cover.
A simple styrofoam spigot cover should be enough to keep your exterior water spigot safe from damage.
Unless you live in an area that experiences below-freezing temperatures for extended periods, it’s essential to protect your outdoor faucets.
Using insulated faucet covers not only prevents freezing but also maintains your home’s curb appeal by keeping the exterior neat and well-maintained. You could also provide more insulation by crumpling up newspaper and/or old rags inside the faucet cover.
Seal Crawl Space Vents
Does your property have a crawl space beneath? If so, it’ll be in your best interest to close off all of the screened air vents around the foundation’s perimeter.
If you do it properly, this will help keep cold air out and ensure the temperature in the crawl space is consistently safe for your furnace, pipes, and any other key component.
Inspect the Roof
The best time to inspect the roof is during the fall season. A quick check-up can help you prevent potential water damage that could impact your home during the cold months.
For a quick assessment, get a ladder of appropriate length and set it at a safe angle of about 75 degrees. Before climbing, make sure you have secured it to prevent possible slipping. Then, climb up carefully, maintaining three points of contact at all times.
Once you get to the roof, ensure you move slowly and carefully. The following are some of the telltale signs of damage to be on the lookout for.
- Missing, cracked, or curled shingles
- Sagging rooflines
- Granules in the gutters
- Damaged flashing
But for a thorough inspection, it may just be best to hire a roofing professional.
Bottom Line
There you have it – expert tips on how to prepare your rental for winter. Remember, as a landlord, it’s your responsibility to protect your investment and keep tenants as comfortable as possible.
But should you require help in this regard or any other aspect of property management, then look no further than Young Management. We are among the top property management companies in and around Kansas City, MO. Get in touch to get started!