Preparing Las Vegas Homes for the Cold Months

The colder months of the year are fast
approaching. Homeowners are starting to prepare their homes for the coming
winter to keep them in prime condition through the cold season. For Las Vegas homes with an old, leaky or
rotted basement door, there is a good chance that you will have a cold and
damp basement this winter. A leaky basement can lead, not only to mold and
mildew, but heat loss as well.

Before the cold weather completely settles
in, homeowners of Las Vegas homes
should perform a scheduled maintenance on their basement doors.

Check the area around the door for visible
signs of leakage, particularly dark areas on the concrete foundation and water
in the basement. In case there is a leak, try to locate the source of the
problem and repair any small holes with exterior grade silicone caulk to
weatherproof the door.

Make sure that one person can open and
close the door easily. Check if the door is too heavy to lift or if it slams
closed. A door that is difficult to operate in the fall will become more
difficult and unsafe in winter.

Clean the header channel at the top of the
door to get rid of any dirt and leaves that have accumulated over the summer.
This channel is designed to redirect water away from the door.

Close the door and check it from the
inside. If there are large gaps entering the door, check to see if there are
any obstructions, such as small rocks, which prevents the basement doors of Las Vegas homes
from closing properly.

In case there are large air gaps or damaged
areas, it is recommended that you replace your door completely.