It’s October and cold weather is just around the corner! Here are some key things you can do now to get your home ready for winter. If you don’t feel comfortable tackling all of these yourself, call in the pros - and call us if you need a referral.
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Clean your gutters and make sure they’re in good condition
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If your gutters are full of leaves or are otherwise blocked, water can back up and flow into your walls and cause water damage (see our blog posting on ice dams); you’ll want to pay special attention near the top of your downspouts as this is often where clogs occur
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Check the bottom of your downspouts; water should be flowing away from your foundation, ideally at least 3-4 feet
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If not, you can add extensions to the bottom
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The ground next to your foundation should also be sloped away from your house so if you do get water it runs away from the house
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Check your roof for damage, missing shingles, or holes
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Clean off any leaves, branches, or other debris as this can cause water to collect in one spot and a leak to form; this is especially important if you have a flat roof
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Also check any trees in your yard to see if there are any heavy branches that look like they might fall on your house or other structures
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Prep your plumbing
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Turn the supply off to any outdoor faucets and drain them
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Detach hoses and store them inside
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If you have an irrigation system, drain it
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Insulate any exposed pipes in your basement to help your water stay hotter and make pipes less likely to burst if you lose power
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You can find pre-slit foam pipe insulation at most hardware stores or online; place it over the pipes and seal it with duct tape if it’s not self-sealing
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Seal up any air leaks in your house
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Put in your storm windows, or consider having them installed if you don’t have them
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Consider installing a storm door
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Check around your windows and doors for existing leaks. You can do this using a candle or incense- move it slowly around the edges of the window or door and where the flame or smoke wavers you probably have a leak; just be careful not to get too close to any curtains or drapes
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Once you find the leaks, you can use caulking or weatherstripping to seal them; be aware that you may need to caulk both inside and outside
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Other potential problem areas may be around chimney, at corners, where pipes or wires exit the house, or where two different types of material meet (from popularmechanics.com)
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Prep your heating system for winter
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Per popularmechanics.com, clean or replace your furnace filter once a month, especially during heating season; you can also upgrade to a permanent filter, such as an electrostatic or HEPA filter, which are better at keeping air particles in check (be sure to continue cleaning them regularly)
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Periodically have a technician inspect your furnace and heating system; they will make sure your furnace is clean, in good repair, working at peak efficiency, and also check to make sure it’s not leaking dangerous levels of carbon monoxide
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If you plan to do this in the fall, you’ll want to schedule it well in advance as many people try to make these appointments before winter
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Replace your smoke detectors with the kind that have a 10 year battery, or at minimum change the batteries in the ones you have. Detectors with a 10-year sealed battery are now required by Mass Law.
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With winter comes less ventilation for your stove and furnace so it’s especially important for your detectors to be in good working order
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Clean and tune up your fireplace
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Have a professional come and clean your chimney and fireplace and inspect them to make sure there aren’t any cracks or other problems
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Reverse your ceiling fans
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Most ceiling fans have a switch that reverses their motion so they’ll push all that warm air your furnace is producing back down into the part of the room where you want it
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Take AC units out of your windows
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You can also drain any permanent AC systems, and shut off the water supply valve (if there is one)
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Test your sump pump
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This is something you should do periodically throughout the year if you have extended dry stretches, but it’s especially important to make sure it’s ready for winter
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Slowly pour several gallons into the pit to make sure it turns on
This list isn’t comprehensive and obviously it will vary from home to home, but hopefully it gives you a good starting point to get your home ready for winter. Doing these tasks in the fall before it gets really cold can save you major headaches down the road, and make your home as cozy as possible for those cold winter nights! Here are some other great tips from our friends at SaveOnEnergy!
*Picture from murraygrp.com
#winteriscoming #winterproofyourhome #christinemccarronrealtor #bostonreguru
