Top Ten Tips To Prepare Your Home for Winter

With winter right around the corner, now is the time to make sure your home is ready while the weather is still nice. It’s only a matter of time before we see specs of white glistening snow fall from the sky, and don’t say I didn’t warn.  So, in an effort to tackle your “Honey Do List” I am breaking down the top ten tips to help you prepare your home for winter this year. I reached out to local companies to get their tips, so if you have any questions about any of this, I have included links so you can reach out to them directly.

Top Ten Tips 

• Test run your heating system – if you haven’t already fired up the furnace to find out, now is the time to try.  You don’t want to have sub zero temperatures and cold house to get you to turn on the furnace only to find out it’s not working. So, test run that puppy to see that it’s in tip, top, shape.  And while you’re at, consider cleaning or replacing your furnace filters, which should be done on a regular anyway.

• Install a Programmable Thermostat – If you don’t already have one, a programmable thermostat is a wise investment for any home owner. It may cost you a marginal price to invest in the thermostat, but it will pay for itself in the long run.  Most home owners benefit from saving about 1% or more on their heating bill just by lowering the temperature by one degree or more.

• Winterize your Air Conditioning System – With winter comes harsh weather conditions that can cause severe damage to your A/C. Cold weather, now and ice could cause a number of problems so it is vital to the longevity of your unit to properly prepare it for those cold winter months. It doesn’t take too much work just a little time but it may seem like a trivial task but it will help you when you need it to work the best in those blazing hot summer days.

• Inspect the roof and clean the gutters – Remove any debris and clutter that has built up in the eave trough so that you can prevent ice blockages which can cause snow and water runoff to drain toward the foundation of the house.

 

• Invest in a Car Starter – The average person no longer has room in their garage for their vehicle because it functions more like a storage locker, which means you are parking your car outdoors. It’s not so bad in the warmer months, but on cold, icy and snowy days the thought of scraping the snow and ice off your car and then getting in and waiting for everything to warm up add a lot of added time to your busy schedule which feels tighter then normal with less daylight hours.  Invest in an automatic car starter so you can start your car from inside while you drink your coffee before heading off to work.

• Stock Up on Windshield Washer Fluid – The snow might come down white and fluffy, but with all the cars sloshing through your windows will build up dirt and salt debris which requires more windshield washer fluid to rinse it away than summer months. 

• Winterize Your Sprinkler System and Pipes – Water expands when it freezes and this can be hazardous for your pipes, because they could freeze and burst. One way to prepare your pipes for winter is to inspect them for cracks and then insulate. The pipes outside your home, such as garden hoses or sprinklers can be disconnected and turned off. 

• Feed and Maintenance Your Lawn – By taking the time in the fall to winterize your lawn, you will benefit in the spring by paving the way for lush, healthy spring grass.  You will need to know what type of grass you have and then fertilize with the right product so that the grass can respond to the external triggers to start the process of preparing for winter, and although the temperatures drop, plant roots remain active in soil so be sure to prep accordingly.

• Point Drain Pipes Away – As mentioned above you should make sure your gutters are clear of debris so they can drain properly, but also make sure that you down spouts point away from the house down a slight slope.  If water collects near your home’s foundation you could compromise the structural integrity which could lead to expensive repairs.

• Get Draft Guards – If you have air leaks in around your doors, you are literally throwing money into thin air.  Door hinges, under-door spaces, broken window seals, power outlets, and other wall fittings are common areas where you might be letting out air which is costing you more money to maintain a consistent temperature in the home. Consider installing draft guards that slide in under your doors and windows, sealing them up so that no air can come in from outside.  Weatherstripping is another helpful trick to seal spaces like nooks and crannies that cannot otherwise be insulated.

BONUS TIP – while you have the ladder out, why not hang up your Christmas lights, you will be thankful you did later.

Each home is unique and each home deserves the care and attention required to help you maintain and keep things running smoothly so you’re not spending money on avoidable and costly fixes.  Take the time to think of all the things that you should do and set aside the time to do them.  It may require a little work upfront, but it will be worth it in the long run.

If you want to chat and discuss other ways to help keep your house in tip top shape and ensure that you are retaining and adding to your property value, I would love to do so over a cup of coffee. Contact me by filling out the contact information box below and I will be sure to get back to you.