It’s time to get your home ready to face the harsh cold weather. And if you want to ensure a long healthy life for your house, then it’s time to get it ready to hibernate this winter. Having a winter check list is really important, because year after year, you can forget things, so to make sure you’re covered, take a look at my simple list of must do’s before the cold weather settles in.
Tune Up Your Heating System – Have a professional take a look at your furnace and service it for efficiency. He’ll make sure your heating system is in good working condition, clean and cost efficient – he’ll also check for carbon monoxide leaks and potential other hazards. You’ll be surprised how the small fee can save you a bundle!
Reverse Your Ceiling Fans – If you haven’t done it already, you should definitely do it now! Reversing your fans will push the hot air down, making your rooms warmer at a much cheaper cost!
Clean Out the Gutters – It’s the easiest, but the most tedious job, and no one likes to do it! If your gutters aren’t clean, water can back up against the house and damage the roof, siding and wood trim - plus it can cause leaks and ice dams.
Prevent Ice Dams - If your house had a lot of icicles last winter, or worse, ice dams, which can cause meltwater to back up and flow into your house - take steps to prevent potential damage this year. Fix air leaks and inadequate insulation in your home's attic to prevent ice dams.
Check the Roof – Give your rooftop a good scan. Check for loose or missing shingles, they may cause leaks from winter storms, snow or ice.
Fix Your Caulking – Check your windows and doors for air leaks. If the gaps between siding and window or door frames are bigger than the width of a nickel, you need to reapply exterior caulk. Silicone caulk is best for exterior use because it won’t shrink and it’s impervious to the elements.
Divert Water – Melting snow and rain cause an excess of ground water around the house. Add extensions of 3-4 feet to all your drain pipes, to ensure that all that extra water is diverted away from your house, ensuring the foundation isn’t flooded.
Turn Off the Exterior Faucets – One of the most common things which we all remember to do, but it’s important to add to the list (just in case!). Undrained water in the pipes can freeze and cause them to burst, which leads to unspeakable damage to your home’s water system. Simply said… turn off the external water taps! You should also look into draining your sprinkler system, making sure all the pipes have been cleared out as well!
Mulch Leaves as You Mow – Here’s my favorites tip – because it’s great for the environment, and great for the garden too! (Not to mention perfect for the pocket). As you give your lawn that final trim before the snow falls, you can mulch all the extra grass and fallen leaves and leave them, where they will decompose and nourish your grass over the winter. Just mow without a bag attached, and the lawn mower will do the job for you!
Stow Your Mower – Since the mower sits through the winter, the extra fuel in its engine will decompose, "varnishing" the carburetor and causing difficulty when you try to start the engine in the spring. Wait until the tank is nearly empty from use and run the engine (outdoors) to use up the remaining fuel. Check your mower's manual for other cold-weather storage steps.
Test Your Sump Pump – Make sure you keep an ear open during the heavy rains to ensure the sump pump is operation correctly. If you have a doubt, pour several gallons of water in the sump pump and give it a test run. It’s always best to make sure it’s working, especially if there has been a dry spell, and you’re not certain if it’s operating properly.
Check Your Fire Place – Before you start picturing those cozy nights by the fire, you have to make sure your fireplace is cleaned out, the chimney is swept, the vents are clear and everything is in working order. Ensuring that the chimney works properly will prevent fires and carbon monoxide leaks in the home.
Stock Up for Winter – Don’t wait for the first snow to buy winter essentials such as salt and ice melt. Make sure your supply is ready to go! You should also look at your snow equipment and make sure it’s all in working order, whether you’re using a shovel or a snow blower, it should all be in good condition to help after that first storm.
Here’s hoping that your home is safe from the winter chill, and you and your family all stay warm during the cold months ahead!
Bill
Tune Up Your Heating System – Have a professional take a look at your furnace and service it for efficiency. He’ll make sure your heating system is in good working condition, clean and cost efficient – he’ll also check for carbon monoxide leaks and potential other hazards. You’ll be surprised how the small fee can save you a bundle!
Reverse Your Ceiling Fans – If you haven’t done it already, you should definitely do it now! Reversing your fans will push the hot air down, making your rooms warmer at a much cheaper cost!
Clean Out the Gutters – It’s the easiest, but the most tedious job, and no one likes to do it! If your gutters aren’t clean, water can back up against the house and damage the roof, siding and wood trim - plus it can cause leaks and ice dams.
Prevent Ice Dams - If your house had a lot of icicles last winter, or worse, ice dams, which can cause meltwater to back up and flow into your house - take steps to prevent potential damage this year. Fix air leaks and inadequate insulation in your home's attic to prevent ice dams.
Check the Roof – Give your rooftop a good scan. Check for loose or missing shingles, they may cause leaks from winter storms, snow or ice.
Fix Your Caulking – Check your windows and doors for air leaks. If the gaps between siding and window or door frames are bigger than the width of a nickel, you need to reapply exterior caulk. Silicone caulk is best for exterior use because it won’t shrink and it’s impervious to the elements.
Divert Water – Melting snow and rain cause an excess of ground water around the house. Add extensions of 3-4 feet to all your drain pipes, to ensure that all that extra water is diverted away from your house, ensuring the foundation isn’t flooded.
Turn Off the Exterior Faucets – One of the most common things which we all remember to do, but it’s important to add to the list (just in case!). Undrained water in the pipes can freeze and cause them to burst, which leads to unspeakable damage to your home’s water system. Simply said… turn off the external water taps! You should also look into draining your sprinkler system, making sure all the pipes have been cleared out as well!
Mulch Leaves as You Mow – Here’s my favorites tip – because it’s great for the environment, and great for the garden too! (Not to mention perfect for the pocket). As you give your lawn that final trim before the snow falls, you can mulch all the extra grass and fallen leaves and leave them, where they will decompose and nourish your grass over the winter. Just mow without a bag attached, and the lawn mower will do the job for you!
Stow Your Mower – Since the mower sits through the winter, the extra fuel in its engine will decompose, "varnishing" the carburetor and causing difficulty when you try to start the engine in the spring. Wait until the tank is nearly empty from use and run the engine (outdoors) to use up the remaining fuel. Check your mower's manual for other cold-weather storage steps.
Test Your Sump Pump – Make sure you keep an ear open during the heavy rains to ensure the sump pump is operation correctly. If you have a doubt, pour several gallons of water in the sump pump and give it a test run. It’s always best to make sure it’s working, especially if there has been a dry spell, and you’re not certain if it’s operating properly.
Check Your Fire Place – Before you start picturing those cozy nights by the fire, you have to make sure your fireplace is cleaned out, the chimney is swept, the vents are clear and everything is in working order. Ensuring that the chimney works properly will prevent fires and carbon monoxide leaks in the home.
Stock Up for Winter – Don’t wait for the first snow to buy winter essentials such as salt and ice melt. Make sure your supply is ready to go! You should also look at your snow equipment and make sure it’s all in working order, whether you’re using a shovel or a snow blower, it should all be in good condition to help after that first storm.
Here’s hoping that your home is safe from the winter chill, and you and your family all stay warm during the cold months ahead!
Bill