WINTER IS COMING

Every year, fall comes around and it can be daunting to tackle every little thing you need to do to prepare your home for the winter. Preparing your home does not have to be stressful.  Here are some practical tips to get you started.

Check for drafts.

Check your windows and doors for a draft.  If you feel air coming into your home, you’ll want to address this before the cold climate hits.  Doors are pretty simple as you can just replace the weather stripping. But If it’s a window that needs some attention, you may have to replace the entire unit.  Replacing windows can get quite expensive.  Check with your local utility company for window replacement programs and rebates.

Clean out your gutters.

It’s good to clean out your gutters every season, but it is most important to do before the raining season starts because you don’t want them to get clogged.  All the leaves on your trees will fall during this season and can easily get stuck in your gutters causing damage if the weight becomes too heavy.

Inspect your roof.

To get your home ready for fall, check your roof for any leaves, twigs, rocks, and other debris.  You’ll probably see a lot more accumulate over the course of the fall season, so it’s good to make sure your roof is in good repair and clear before the raining season begins. This debris can fall into your gutter causing them to clog and not work properly.  You will also want to check for missing roof tiles, shingles, cracks, etc. If you are uncomfortable getting on the roof, you can hire a professional to inspect and clean your roof. 

Purchase winter necessities

Fall is a great time to host campfires with friends and family.  So, stock up on firewood to last you through the whole season and through the winter too if you want to save yourself a trip. Purchase ice melt and check your snow shovel to make sure it doesn’t need to be replaced.  It’s also a good idea to buy a window scraper and, depending on where you live, possibly snow tires.

Mulch or fertilize your lawn.

As fall approaches, you won’t need to mow and maintain your lawn as often as in the summer and spring months.  So, before fall and winter start, mulch or fertilize your lawn.  Mulch leaves and grass clippings into your lawn as you mow.  This creates a rich environment for the microorganisms deep in your soil.  This keeps the soil and your lawn in good condition creating deep thick green lawn all year round. Make sure you do not have a heavy layer of mulch on the grass.

Pack up chairs, tables, and other items.

Sadly, it’s time to pack up those lounge chairs, inflatable pools, and other summer outdoor furniture.  You can still leave some of it out – it doesn’t have to go away for months in your shed until winter.  If you want to have a campfire, for example, you might want a few winterized chairs and a table to enjoy the cool outdoor weather with your family. Make sure you store cushions, pillows, and rugs in a cool well-ventilated area to prevent moisture and mold. 

Close up your trampoline, pool, and other outdoor items.

Cover your trampoline so that leaves and dirt don’t build up on the top and on the inside.  Or take the pad off, fold it and store it. You can clean and winterize your pool with chemicals and cover it with a cold weather cover so that you can keep it nice and clean for when next summer rolls around.

Check the thermostat inside.

What’s most important is to not let the temperature inside your home get cold enough to freeze pipes in the first place.  Some steps to take:  set your thermostat to a temperature between 50° and 55°F—just high enough to prevent freezing inside your home.  This range is also best to prevent mold and mildew from forming and grouted tiles from buckling.  Insulate exposed pipes and hose bibs. Seal air leaks to stop cold air from blowing in.  Common spots to inspect are around pipes, dryer vents, and electrical wiring.

Adjust your sprinkler settings.

To prepare your home for fall, you may not need to turn your sprinkler system off entirely.  As it gets colder and wetter, you won’t need to water nearly as much as in the summer.  Also remove all hoses from the bibs and cover with a faucet cover. Lastly disconnect water lines to plants and the garden to prevent freezing and cracking.

Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace the batteries in your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector so you know they will work efficiently and keep you and your loved ones safe through the fall and winter. Test your fire alarms system and review emergency plans with your loved ones. This is also a good time to stock up on emergency equipment and food.

Rinse off your air conditioning unit.

If you used your air conditioning unit a lot over the summer, make sure you rinse it off before fall hits.  It will accumulate dirt, pollen, dust, and other small particles over time.

Purchase an air purifier.

As it gets colder, you won’t be opening your windows and doors as much to improve your ventilation.  They are a great investment to improve your indoor air quality year-round.

Test your furnace.

You probably haven’t needed to heat your home for several months – which means your furnace has been a sitting all summer.  Be sure to test it before it gets too cold so if you need to get it serviced for some reason, you aren’t doing it when your home is uncomfortably cold. Check/replace the filter.

Weed and cover your garden.

This is the best time to pull out your annuals and weed your garden. Purchase plant coverings for delicate plants that are not wind and winter hardy. Only cover when the temperature dips below 32 degrees. Clip and maintain Trees which may include staking our trees to make them sturdy against high winds. 

Sort through your shed and garage.

Set aside a weekend and organize everything in your shed.  Then, next summer when you need to pull everything out again, it’ll be easy.

Well, there you have it!  Is your home ready for fall and winter?  If not, feel free to print out the list and get to work!  You can never be over-prepared, so the more maintenance you do, the better! Hopefully these tips will help you avoid costly repairs and problems in the future.  By preparing your home for winter, you’ll be doing a lot of the prep for spring and summer as well!.