HOPKINS, Minn. — Soak in the beautiful fall colors while they last, but don't spend too long because it's the perfect time to get some chores done before winter.
"Winterization involves a lot of basic work that homeowners can do," Steve Kuhl said. Kuhl is the owner of Kuhl's contracting. On days like today, he and his crew are busy helping weatherize homes or installing heated cables for roofs.
No one wants to hear about chores but Kuhl said small tweaks here and there now, will pay off big time in the long run.
"You have a choice," he said. "You can either keep your heat and your money inside of the house or you can let it get outside of your house."
The choice seems pretty clear right? So here are a few things to pay attention to.
Animals and entry points
"Usually a squirrel or a mouse in this state, they can get into spaces as small as a dime," Kuhl said.
Outdoor faucets
"You turn off the shutoff valve inside the home, usually in the basement and you open up the water," he said, opening the exterior faucet to let the water out.
Windows and doors
Kuhl said weather stripping is key in preventing drafts.
"This is an example of a very good weather stripping that is intact and installed in the factory," he said referring to a new door. "You can also buy material almost identical to this if your weather stripping is bad."
Gutters
"We want to clean out the gutters but we also want to remove all the organic material off the roof," Kuhl said.
Roof
Kuhl added it's also a good time to inspect roofs for damage and make repairs before temperatures drop. He also recommended laying down heated cables to prevent severe ice dams. He said it's important to invest in self-regulating cables as they are safer than constant wattage ones. More info on those here.
For more weatherization tips, you can find a checklist on Kuhl's website.
Find more videos on our KARE 11 YouTube channel.