Winter Preparation

The leaves are turning and the sun is starting to set earlier and earlier.  The days are crisper and you’ve started to wear more and more layers.  You’ve probably started to prepare yourself for the colder months ahead by changing to a warmer wardrobe and stocking your kitchen with plenty of hot chocolate.  Have you prepared your home for winter?   Here are a few areas to prepare your home for the colder weather.

Gutters:  Make sure to clean out the gutters, especially if you have a lot of trees in the yard.  You should clean them out at least once in the fall and once in the spring.  It’s even better if you clean them twice during these seasons. Grab a trash bag, ladder, and some gloves.  You might want to ask for help and have someone hold a ladder steady and a trashcan below.  You want to make sure they’re cleaned out well so your home can properly drain any moisture during the winter.

Fireplace:  With a fireplace you want to check and make sure to inspect the chimney.  You could hire a professional to do this.  You don’t want to go start your first fire of the season and have smoke going the wrong direction.  If you have a wood burning fireplace you’ll want to have enough dry firewood.  Have an indoor storage for the logs and keep a pile outside of the house so you can re-stock.

Sprinklers:  If you have a sprinkler system, be sure that it’s properly disengaged and turned off for the season.  Depending on the system, you may have to call a professional.  If you water plants and your yard manually, don’t forget to detach all of the hoses from their spouts.  Detach hoses and store them in the shed or your garage for the season.

Windows:  Change out your screen windows for their storm windows if you have them.  If you walk by your windows in the winter and can notice a significant temperature change, think about sealing them with a kit to help keep the heat in.

When it comes to your home, you want it to be nice and cozy during wintertime.  These are just a few things you might want to consider when it comes to getting your house ready.