Winter is Coming: Your Essential Fall Home Prep Checklist

Winter is Coming: Your Essential Fall Home Prep Checklist

With the first frost officially here, it’s time to give your home a little extra care to prepare for the colder months ahead. A few preventative steps now can help you avoid costly repairs and keep things running smoothly all winter long—and protect your investment!

Protect the Exterior: Yard, Roof, and Plumbing

The outside of your home takes the biggest hit during a cold season. Focusing on these items will help prevent water damage and keep your yard tidy:

• Water Management: Disconnect and properly store all garden hoses. Be sure to drain and shut off exterior faucets to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.

• Clear the Way: Clean gutters and downspouts thoroughly. This is critical to prevent water from backing up, which can lead to damaging ice dams.

• Roof Check: Take a look at your roof for any missing shingles or visible damage that could allow leaks once the snow and ice arrive.

• Tidy Up: Store patio furniture, planters, and lawn equipment in a garage or shed.

• Tree Safety: Trim back any trees or branches that are close to the house, the roof, or power lines. Heavy ice and wind can cause these to break and cause significant damage.

Heating and Interior Efficiency

Keeping your home warm and cozy is a top priority when the temperature drops. These interior steps focus on efficiency and safety:

• Furnace Care: Replace furnace filters and schedule a professional furnace tune-up. A well-maintained heating system runs more efficiently and is less likely to break down mid-blizzard.

• Safety First: Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries as needed.

• Fan Trick: Reverse your ceiling fans so they run clockwise (on a low setting). This will push warm air trapped near the ceiling back down into the room.

• Seal the Leaks: Add weather stripping or caulk around drafty windows and doors. Sealing these gaps is one of the easiest ways to prevent heat loss and lower your energy bills.

• Insulation Check: Inspect the insulation in attics, basements, and crawl spaces to ensure it’s adequate and hasn't been damaged.

Other Essential Winter Prep

A few final items will ensure you’re ready for the worst of the weather:

• Fireplace Ready: Inspect your fireplace or wood stove and have the chimney professionally cleaned if it hasn’t been done recently.

• Ice Control: Keep sidewalks and driveways stocked with salt, sand, or ice melt for quickly tackling icy patches.

• Snow Removal: Make sure your snowblower or shovel is accessible, serviced, and ready to go before the first major snowfall.

A little preparation goes a long way toward keeping your home warm, safe, and efficient through the entire cold season. Getting these items checked off now means you can spend the rest of the fall relaxing!

Need Help Checking Off Your List?

If you’d like a list of trusted local vendors (plumbers, HVAC specialists, roofers, handymen, etc.) who can help with any of your winter preparation tasks, just contact me! I’m happy to share my personal recommendations for quality service providers in our area.

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