8 Ways to Get Your Home Winter-Ready

‘Tis the season to get your house winter ready! Book a weekend this fall to prepare your home for the colder months ahead. The time you invest up front will save you not just on your heating bills, but also spare you plenty of headaches as the snow is falling around you. Here are eight ways to get your home ready for winter. 

Start outside

Work your way from the outside, in. More than just finally putting the lawn toys away you’ve been swearing you’d clean up, there are several action items for the exterior of your home. These steps can keep your home working efficiently, and help you score better on a home inspection when you're ready to sell your home.

1. Inspect your trees

Trees are frequently the culprit of damaged roofs (and hopes and dreams of saving money for things far more exciting than unexpected home repairs). Branches can break under the weight of heavy snowfall. Additionally, branches close to the house can be a very inviting direct path to your attic for squirrels, rats and other creatures just looking to spend their winter somewhere warmer. Trim any branches in need of some loving, and if you find any dead trees in your yard, be sure to have them removed as soon as possible. 

2. Clean those gutters!

Fall: pumpkin spice, jeans and boots, and so.many.falling.leaves.stuck.in.your.gutter. Whether you do it yourself (be so careful and make sure you have a ladder spotter!) or hire this task out, cleaning your gutters will ensure melting snow drains as it’s supposed to, not down the front exterior of your house, which can lead to degradation of your siding and foundation. It's also an important part of curb appeal when selling your home. Treat yourself to a PSL and get those gutters cleaned!

3. Prep your lawn

Make sure your sprinkler system is turned off, cover your grill and any outdoor furniture, be sure any table umbrellas are either removed completely (preferable) or at least closed, clean up any leaves and if you’re feeling super ambitious you can seed, fertilize and winterize your grass for that perfect spring look. If you’re not feeling that, at least make sure the toys are picked up. Nothing worse than trying to clean your yard with a 15 degree wind chill and snow. 

4. Caulk and seal

Do a thorough perimeter check of your property to see if there are any areas in need of attention. Caulk any cracks around the house, especially looking around the windows, where so much heat is lost and air finds a way in. Use a sealant to paint your deck and seal any other outdoor furniture whose future includes a long, cold winter ahead.  

Inside 

5. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors 

Testing your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors regularly is important to their efficacy. Change the batteries, push the “test” button and make sure it’s firing correctly. If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector, now is the time to get one. Here’s one military spouse leading the charge on educating the public why this simple, inexpensive product is so important. 

6. Prepare windows

Spending some time on your windows is an imperative step in winterizing your home. Installing storm windows offers extra protection against heavy winds, snowfall and otherwise nasty weather. They also add a layer of insulation which can help your home stay nice and toasty warm. Also consider installing weather stripping, covering window wells for basement windows and reinforcing single-sash window locks with an additional lock to ensure the close is sufficient to keep the cold out and the heat in. 

7. Clean your chimney

Cleaning your chimney isn’t just the right thing to do for Santa, it’s also critical in keeping your loved ones safe from carbon monoxide and smoke inhalation. Chimneys should be cleaned annually, without exception, to remove built-up residue which can be harmful to your infrastructure and to your family. This is one we definitely recommend outsourcing unless you have all sorts of fancy equipment. Look for coupons on local pages or find companies with a military discount. 

8. HVAC

Doing your routine heating and cooling unit maintenance will prevent you from doing HVAC purchasing which is far more expensive and also much more difficult during a storm. Have your unit inspected, change any filters and flush your water cooler on an annual basis to make sure you’re good to go before you have to turn the heat on for the first time. Companies are typically slammed during a storm, so take advantage of your good planning by calling them before you need them. 

With a little bit of planning, winterizing your home doesn’t need to feel daunting! Use our eight tips today to get a head start on the cold. And once you make it through winter, you'll want to read these 7 steps for spring cleaning for homeowners!