Owning a rental property comes with plenty of responsibilities. One of the biggest challenges landlords face is adequately maintaining their property all year round.
Extreme temperatures can take a toll on the building structure, jeopardizing your investment and your tenant’s safety. That’s why it’s highly advised to follow safety standards and prepare your rental for winter in advance.
To guide you along the process, the experts at Evolve Nevada have outlined a winter property maintenance checklist. With this article, you’ll be able to check whether your rental is ready for winter!
Reasons to Prepare Your Rental for Winter
Preparing your rental property for winter ensures that its foundation and crucial systems will be able to withstand the harsh elements and extreme temperatures that could damage them. Additionally, winterizing your rental can have the following benefits:
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Less energy consumption. Winter can significantly increase your energy bills. Ensuring your home is adequately insulated against the cold reduces the use of energy, as well as the cost of utility bills.
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Avoid unnecessary repairs. Performing regular maintenance can save you money in the long run. Getting a professional to inspect your HVAC system, chimney or fireplace, and plumbing structure before winter can prevent big, costly repairs down the line.
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Protection against natural disasters. Extreme weather can take a toll on your rental’s structure and vital systems. Ensuring that your property is ready for winter can help you find and fix major risks before it’s too late.
- Maintain your property in good condition for longer. While preparing your rental property for winter doesn’t mean it’ll become invulnerable to extreme weather, it reduces the risk of damages and increases the property’s durability.
10 Ways to Prepare Your Rental for Winter
Preparing your rental property for winter doesn’t have to be complicated. The best course of action is to create a checklist and start working on those tasks once the weather begins to change and temperatures lower. Below are our best tips for getting rental properties ready for winter.
Clean Out the Gutters
When fall comes to an end, it’s highly recommended to hire a professional to remove all leaves and debris from your gutters. This can help prevent ice dams and icicles from forming on overflowing gutters once the cold starts.
Check the Water Heater
Water heaters generally account for a big chunk of a landlord’s utility bills throughout the winter. That’s why it’s essential to ensure your heater is working correctly before winter comes.
You should always flush your water heater before the cold starts and add a layer of insulation around it to conserve the heat.
Reverse Ceiling Fans
Surprisingly, ceiling fans can be useful in the winter months, when adjusted to spin clockwise. As such, the fan will push all the warm air down, making your tenants more comfortable and reducing your heating costs.
Inspect the Plumbing Fixtures
Nobody wants to deal with frozen pipes. Before winter arrives, you should have a professional plumber inspect all the pipes in your rental to ensure there’s no damage or need for replacements. Additionally, you can insulate the pipes to keep them safe during cold seasons.
Check the HVAC System
Ensuring that your HVAC system is working correctly all year round can help keep your renters happy and save you a lot of money.
During the colder months, keep watch on the snow accumulation on and around your A/C unit. Clearing the snow off your unit will prevent any rusting or corrosion from occurring.
It’s also recommended to replace every air filter in your HVAC system before the start of winter. It’s best to purchase thicker, higher-quality filters because they tend to last longer and can better protect your system.
Insulate Doors and Windows
Investing in proper insulation around doors and windows can prevent heat loss during the colder months. This will not only keep your renters more comfortable but can also reduce your utility bills.
Add a Chimney Balloon
If the renters don’t use the chimney during winter, you should consider installing a chimney balloon. Doing so can significantly cut down on drafts and utility bills. It can also be a protective measure to prevent pests from entering your rental property through the fireplace.
Keep an Eye Out for Roof Leaks
A leaking roof can end up becoming a huge, expensive repair, especially during winter. That’s why it’s best to give your roof a quick inspection before the colder months.
Keep an eye out for water stains on the roof underlayment or of daylight piercing through the roof. Consider employing someone’s services for a more professional and comprehensive review.
Close Crawl Space Vents
If your rental unit has a crawl space, it’s important to close and insulate every screened air vent around the structure. Doing so will keep the cold air out and maintain the crawl space at a safe temperature for critical systems on your property, such as pipes and furnaces.
Invest in Rugs
Thick rugs can help you keep your rental warm and cozy. That’s why investing in high-quality rugs is highly recommended.
If your property already has rugs or carpets in place, make sure to deep clean them at least once a year. This will improve the overall look of your property and improve the air quality by removing any traces of dust left in the rugs.
Bottom Line
Preparing your property for winter is key to keeping your renters happy and your home in good condition. In this article, we’ve gone over crucial things to do to prepare your rental for winter, including cleaning out the gutters, insulating doors and windows, and checking pipes.
If you want to learn more about how to keep your property well-cared for all year round, contact Evolve Nevada today! With our comprehensive property management services, you can rest assured that your rental will be in good hands.
