Prepare your home for all weather

    The weather these days seems to be more volatile than ever — swinging from record-setting heat waves to deep freezes, seemingly from one day to the next.
    With the weather more varied and unpredictable, homeowners nationwide have learned lessons from the past year and are taking steps to ensure their houses can efficiently withstand whatever Mother Nature dishes out.
    It’s all about keeping homes sealed tightly, so water and wind can’t leak in and tempered air doesn’t leak out — causing heating and cooling bills to rise.
Beware of foundation cracks
    Water is the enemy of your home’s foundation. A change in moisture content of the soil around your home allows water to put pressure on the foundation, causing cracks and leaks.
    Dry weather can cause the soil to shrink, while wet periods can cause it to soften. Poor drainage from your roof or improper ground slope around your home can funnel water against the foundation.