We know that the idea of winterizing your home doesn’t sound like the most fun, especially when there are pumpkins to be picked, apples to be plucked, and pumpkin spice lattes to be sipped, but there’s a lot to be said for peace of mind and winter is coming so it’s best to go ahead and spend some time now preparing for the cold months that lie ahead. We’ve made it easy, here is our checklist of things that should be done around your home in preparation for the winter. Let’s get started!
Insulate Your Pipes
Any exposed pipes that run along walls or in an unheated area are potential hazards, and trust us when we say that the last thing you want on a cold morning is to wake up to a pipe that has burst. Luckily pipe insulation can be found at hardware stores and installing it isn’t difficult either. This is for sure something that you don’t want to sleep on.
Clean Your Gutters
See? We weren’t lying when we said this stuff wasn’t fun. Depending on how many trees you’re surrounded by, you should probably be cleaning your gutters a few times a year, but it’s especially important to do so before winter comes. All of that debris that’s living in your gutters can and will freeze when temperatures dip low enough and it can get trapped under shingles and cause roof damage, and roof damage is no laughing matter.
Inspect Your Tree Branches
Be on the lookout for any branches that are low hanging and take care of them before a storm or heavy ice does it for you. These branches can come down and cause some major damage if they get too heavy, and once again, this is something you don’t want to be dealing with in the middle of a winter storm.
Block the Drafts
Remember those areas you noticed getting drafty last winter and said “I’ll fix that next winter”? Well, it’s time. You can block drafts by purchasing some caulking or using weather stripping depending on where your drafts are coming from, both of which can be purchased at a hardware store. Future you will thank the present you when not only are sitting warm and cozy in your home, but your energy bill is lower because your heater doesn’t have to work as hard to keep up.
Get Your Fireplace Cleaned
Call the professionals to come give your fireplace and chimney a good onceover and cleaning because built-up soot can ignite. Do this now before their schedules are booked and you can go into the winter knowing your fireplace is ready to keep you and yours warm and cozy.
Check Your Furnace
Just like you should be checking your air conditioner every spring before you need it, you should check your heater every fall before you need it. And don’t forget to change your filters.