The days are getting shorter and temperatures have recently dropped to freezing overnight. Icy winds, heavy rainfall, and even snow will soon find us. Putting these simple chores on your home maintenance checklist will help you get your home ready for winter, both inside and out.
Inside Your Home
Furnace
Change the filter if it looks dirty – filters need replacing every three to four months. Have a professional inspect the furnace annually, in the fall if possible, to keep it working efficiently through winter and spring.
Chimney and Fireplace
Clean the chimney(s), vents, and fireplace. The flue and chimney of gas fireplace need to be checked regularly for blockages. Again, professional inspections should be conducted once a year for both wood burning and gas fireplaces to ensure nothing requires repairing or gas lines aren’t leaking.
Sump Pump
The sump pump in your basement or crawl space pushes water from beneath and around your house away from the foundation. Ensure it’s working properly; use the manufacturer’s manual for basic maintenance and testing tips.
Ceiling Fans
Reverse ceiling fans so they rotate clockwise. Since warm air rises, the draft created by the fan will force the air back down into the room. A room that stays warm longer can help you use less energy and reduce the heating bill.
Outside Your Home
Roof
Inspect the roof for any missing or damaged shingles and large patches of roofing tiles that never seem to dry out. These are the types of repairs that need to be done as soon as possible before winter weather can turn a few damaged shingles into a major disaster. Other repairs that might need immediate attention include gaps in the flashing; loose roofing tiles or shingles; and vents/chimneys that have become loose, damaged or blocked.
While the attic is inside your home, it is definitely part of the roof. If heat escapes through the attic, ice dams can form. Check attic walls for leaks and stained walls that might indicate wet insulation, rendering it ineffective.
Gutters
When you don’t plan on cleaning the gutters until spring or even if you have already done your gutter cleaning in this fall, take the time to inspect the gutter system before winter. Gutters full of debris can cause leaks, water running down siding, and drainage issues.
The Foundation
Inspect the foundation for small cracks and visible holes and patch them if you can. Trim any shrubs, bushes, or small trees that brush up against the foundation and siding – it can help prevent hairline cracks and pinholes from becoming worse.
The Yard
Protect plants, small trees, and shrubs from frost by covering them up with blankets or tarps.
Rake the front and back yards to remove any debris that can become dangerous in a wind or rain storm.
Ensure fencing is in good condition. Inspect any fences on your property for damaged boards, leaning posts, and gates that don’t close properly or open easily.
Add mulch to the soil in landscaped areas. If garden beds are close to the foundation, mulch will help prevent soil erosion.
Outside and Inside
Doors
Doors that let warm air escape and cold air into your home aren’t energy efficient. Entry doors have outside and inside components. Ensure that there are no gaps between the trim and walls; no significant space underneath the bottom edge of the door; and the trim around the door is free of cracks, holes or peeling paint.
Windows
Do the same, both inside and out, for all of the windows. Install weatherstripping or fill in any gaps you find between the trim and interior/exterior walls. Remove debris from window wells and replace cracked glass panes.
Basement/Foundation
Water can leak into a basement through cracks in the foundation (outside) and interior walls. Check for mold (sign of excess moisture); condensation and leaking pipes (inside); and extensive cracks and soil erosion (outside).
Outbuildings on Your Property
Shed
Check the outside of the shed for cracks, broken window panes, and clogged gutters and downspouts (if it has a gutter system). Examine the roof for water damage, missing shingles, etc.
Remove any chemicals, cleaning solutions, etc. that you don’t use any more or ones that have an expiration date.
Winterize your lawn mower; store other types of equipment properly.
Greenhouse
Clean the glass/walls inside and out.
Check the ventilation system.
Inspect the irrigation system and water tank.
Detached Garage
Declutter – use bins, pegboards, and drawer organizers to reduce visual clutter.
Repair chipped or cracked glass panes; replace weatherstripping if you feel a draft.
Clean the outside walls of grime and dirt; it will help preserve the siding’s finish.
Ensure the garage door is properly aligned. It should open and close smoothly; once closed there are no gaps between the bottom of the door and the floor.
