Winter can bring with it a lot of surprises – many of which can be unpleasant to deal with. The best way to meet these surprises is head-on, and the only way you can do that is to prepare for them before they happen.
What to Do Inside and Outside to Prepare Your Home for Winter
In this guide, you’ll learn how to prepare your home for winter, inside and out. Here’s what you should be doing now, so your home is ready for winter before the first snowflake falls.
Checklist for Preparing Your Home’s Exterior for Winter
- Clean the gutters
- Turn off exterior water sources, shut down the pool, drain the sprinkler system, etc.
- Disconnect and store garden hoses
- Remove leaves from the lawn
- Winterize the garden
- Prune dead tree limbs
- Clean and store or cover patio furniture
- Check the drainage around the home
- Seal any cracks or holes in your home’s exterior
- Paint, caulk and seal exterior wood (fence, deck, window frames, etc.)
- Clean and store your landscaping tools and equipment
- Prepare your snow removal equipment
Checklist for Preparing Your Home’s Interior for Winter
- Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and test them to make sure they work
- Inspect attic vents and make sure the screening is in good shape
- Clean the chimney
- Have your furnace inspected and maintenance performed
- Have your generator maintenance performed
- Install weather-stripping around exterior doors
- Apply fresh caulk around windows and insulate them
- Install rubber gaskets between exterior wall outlets and their cover plates
- Clean ceiling fan blades and flip the switch for them to rotate clockwise
- Remove or winterize window air conditioning units
- Replace screen doors with storm doors
- Inspect attic insulation and upgrade if necessary
- Install an insulation blanket on your water heater
- Insulate exposed plumbing pipes
Stock Up on Winter Supplies for the Home
Just as important as preparing your home for winter is stocking up on the supplies you’re going to need to help see you through the season. Most importantly, you want certain things to help you make it through periods of power outages with greater ease and less discomfort. Some of the items you’ll want to pick up include:
- Extra batteries
- Bottled water
- Matches
- Candles
- Non-perishable food items
- Warm blankets
- Solar-powered chargers for smartphones
- Fuel for your generator
- De-icing products
- First aid products and medicine
- Pet food
Winter is an unpredictable season, but depending on where you live, it can also be a dangerous one if you’re not prepared for it. Don’t let yourself fall victim to winter’s whims – take action now and prepare your home for winter. You can’t stop whatever happens with the weather, but by being prepared, you’ll be able to adapt and deal with the situation.
Another thing you’ll want to do before winter arrives is to have your roof, windows, siding or gutter replaced if you need them. The last thing you want is to go into the season with a leaky roof, drafty windows, ineffective gutters or bad siding. Let Thompson Creek help get your home ready for winter. To learn more about our services or to find out how we can help improve your home, contact Thompson Creek and get a free estimate for your home improvement project today.