Steps to Winterize Your Property

11/15/2019 (Permalink)

Regular home maintenance can save you time and money.

1. Clean Out Your Gutters

Clearing out your gutters and downspouts should usually be done a few times a year, depending on how many trees you have. But emptying them before the freezing temperatures set in is an essential first step to winterizing your home. If your gutters seem to fill up with debris quickly, try installing leaf guards to keep them cleaner longer.

2. Inspect Your Roof

Roof maintenance is best done before the cold sets in, and it’s a crucial part of preparing your home for winter. The best way to determine your roof’s integrity is to do a visual inspection. You will want to look for sections of the roof where the shingles are cracking, bending, or just plain missing. Loose nails and missing flashing should also be investigated to see if there are some potential leaks. A comprehensive roof inspection is best done by a roofing specialist and is something you may need to call a professional for.  

3. Protect Your Wood Deck

Sweep your deck clean of fallen leaves and other dirt and debris. If you didn’t apply a fresh coat of sealer in the spring, now may be the time to do that before the snow starts falling. You can lay a large tarp down to protect your wood or make sure to be diligent about using a plastic shovel for snow removal. Focusing on maintaining your wood deck year-round can help preserve its lifespan.

4. Flush Your Sprinklers

As you winterproof your home, pay special attention to outdoor water sources. If your lawn has a sprinkler system, it’s important to shut the water off before the ground freezes. You will also want to flush the existing water out of the pipes. To do that, open up the manual valve and flip on the system or use a compressor to blow the remaining water out of the system.

5. Check Your Snow blower

Don’t wait for the first snowfall to get your snow removal equipment in order. If you haven’t run your snow blower in a while, you’ll probably want to change the motor oil, spark plug, and air filter before firing it up. Once that basic maintenance is out of the way, turn it on to ensure that everything is running smoothly. You should also lubricate the chute, levers, and linkages throughout the machine so that everything turns easily once you’re removing snow.

6. Bring in Outdoor Plants, Furniture and Grill

Before the freezing weather hits, take inventory of all your outdoor accessories and plants. Debug and bring in your plants before the first frost hits, as this can cause them to drop their leaves. Clean all of your outdoor furniture and store it in your garage or shed.

Any yard equipment you used during the summer should be cleaned up and stored in a dry place when preparing for winter. For your garden hose, disconnect it from your faucet and put it away. For mowers, you’ll want to scrape off any grass that is caked onto the blades. This can be done with a putty knife or wire brush. You should also take this time to change the oil, air filter, and spark plug so you’re prepared for when spring rolls around.

7. Seal Gaps Around Your Doors and Windows

An essential goal of winterizing your home is to keep your heating bills down and make sure your home is blocking out the cold air effectively. A great way to do this is to add weather stripping to your doors and caulk any window gaps. To prevent a draft from sneaking in, make sure all your windows stay locked. It may be time to replace your windows if your sashes aren’t meeting, and your inner lock isn’t working.

8. Protect Your Pipes

Unheated interior spaces like your garage, attic, or basement are most at risk for frozen pipes. Use pipe insulation liberally on any of your exposed pipes in the vulnerable areas of your house. Other ways to protect your pipes from freezing are to keep your garage closed as much as possible, and even when you aren’t home, and don’t let the temperature of your house fall under 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

9. Clean Your Chimney and Check Fireplace Flue

After giving it the summer off, having your chimney inspected and cleaned is essential for fire safety. Hire a local professional for a certified fireplace and chimney inspection and cleaning before the winter hits. An inspection will determine if there has been any buildup through the off-seasons and test your flue for a tight seal when closed.

10. Test-Run Your Heating System and Replace Filter

Furnace filters should be changed regularly at least every three months, though some experts recommend replacing them as frequently as once a month. The best thing for your furnace is to call an HVAC professional to come out and inspect it for you to make sure everything is operational. During their inspection, they’ll clean the furnace and change the filter for you. It’s also worth paying a little more to have them clean out your ducts as well.

11. Cover Your Water Heater

To stop your water heater from losing heat as quickly, you can purchase a water heater insulation blanket. These will only run you about $20-$25 from your local home improvement store and save you some cash on your heating bill.

12. Install a Programmable Thermostat

Using a smart or programmable thermostat can save the average consumer more than 8% of their heating and cooling energy, amounting to around $50 annually. These new thermostats will also allow you to customize the temperature of your home based on your personal preferences. Many brands have an app for your phone, so you can control your thermostat remotely or without ever leaving your bed.

13. Change Batteries and Test Smoke Detectors

Winter is the perfect time to crank the heat, light a fire and make some soup on the stove – but all these things also make this the peak season for home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. Change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and test them to make sure they are working correctly.