The coals on your grill may still be hot, but that doesn’t mean that summer will last forever. Before we know it, summer will be a distant memory and cooler weather will be upon us. It’s a good idea to get ready for the changing seasons. Here are a few tips to help you get your home ready for cold weather season.
Clean Gutters
If you have a lot of trees around your home, when the leaves begin to fall you’ll likely get some debris in your gutters. Have your gutters cleaned out to avoid any buildup that could cause busted eaves and damage to your roof or home’s structure.
Clean your Garden
Unless you want critters taking up residence in your garden during the cold weather months, you should winterize your garden. That includes harvesting any remaining fruits or vegetables, putting down a tarp or other ground covering, and removing debris from around your garden that may be an attractive place for rodents and other critters to burrow in.
Seal up Cracks
When the weather is less than ideal, bugs, rodents, and other pests may flock to the first warm shelter they can find, which may be your home. To avoid an infestation, seal up and cracks or joints around your home so they don’t have an opening to get in.
Service your HVAC System
The last thing you want is to wake up in the middle of the night to a freezing cold house because your heater broke. Have your furnace serviced before cold weather hits so you can address any potential issues that may be present and so you have a fully-functioning unit when winter comes.
Add Insulation
Another good way to make sure your home is winter-ready is to bulk up on your home’s insulation. That means caulking around your windows and doors and blowing insulation in your attic or crawl space. A well-insulated home can drastically decrease your monthly energy bills and keep you warm on cold days.
Don’t Neglect Your Ducts
Many homeowners neglect to get their ducts serviced on a regular basis, but a good duct cleaning every so often can also improve your home’s efficiency and ensure your furnace is delivering warm air properly through your vents. Schedule a service call for your ducts so they’re ready for winter.
Winterize your Trees
To keep your trees safe, have them winterized so they stay healthy during the colder months. Have your trees wrapped, take care of the roots by giving them a healthy dose of nutrients, and make sure your tree doesn’t have a lot of debris built up around the base of the trunk which could suffocate its roots.
Protect Lawn Furniture
To keep your lawn furniture and other outdoor equipment in good condition while it’s not in use, clear out space to store your items when the time comes. If you don’t have the space to store your items when they aren’t in use, then investing in good tarps and tie downs to put over them is a good alternative. With these tips, your home should be ready for the cold weather months in no time.
Stock Up
While you’re taking care of winterizing around the outside of your home, it’s a good idea to take the opportunity to stock up on emergency supplies just in case something happens. You should strive to have at least one gallon of water per person per day, with three days’ worth stored away. Other items you should have on hand include a three-day supply of non-perishable food, a manual can opener, a flashlight with plenty of batteries, a basic first aid kit, and a battery-operated radio.
If you aren’t quite ready to start thinking about colder weather quite yet, get started with a list of to do items and check to be sure you have everything you need on hand to winterize your home when it’s time.
