Winterizing Your Home

The temperatures have started to fall and you have pulled out the winter sweaters and coats to keep your family warm and protected from the cold weather, but what about your home?

Now is the time that you start preparing and winterizing your home for the upcoming winter! There are several things that need to be done to protect your home from the frigid conditions.

1. Get your furnace/heat pumps/HVAC inspected. Have a HVAC professional inspect and clean the ducts. Change your filters monthly for optimum performance.

2. Get your fireplace and/gas unit inspected. Inspect the cap and ensure that is not missing. Have your chimney inspected and cleaned, freeing it of soot and other debris. Check the mortar for stability. When purchasing firewood, ensure that it is kept away from your home and covered to stay dry.

3. Inspect the exterior of your home/doors/windows. Check for loose or damaged siding and repair/replace. Check for cracks or broken seals in windows. Prime/paint any exposed wood that has been worn.

4. Clean and inspect roof gutters/downspouts. Clean out debris from gutters and downspouts. Cover gutter with mesh screen to prevent debris from getting into them.

5. Prepare Lawn and Gardening equipment for the winter. Drain lawnmowers of gasoline, clean and store. Clean gardening tools and store. Clean out garden sheds.

6. Check your foundations. Check your foundations for cracks and repair. Remove vegetation away from foundation and trim back shrubs and trees if needed. Remove bugs/foreign objects from window sills.

7. Replace batteries in smoke and carbon dioxide detectors. Check the status of your fire extinguisher and/or purchase a new one if needed in case of emergency.

8. Check your plumbing. Ensure that exposed plumbing pipes are properly insulated. Drain your water heater to remove sediment that settled over the past year. Drain/store water hoses if not needed.

9. Clean up your Landscaping. Trim back trees and shrubs. Remove dead vegetation. Winterize your lawn with the appropriate fertilizer.

10. Pack an emergency kit. Just like in case of a hurricane, it's important to have an emergency kit for winter. Ensure a few warm blankets, matches, water, canned goods, batteries and flashlights are available. Be sure to create a checklist of important items/information for your family in case of emergency.