The temps are starting to drop! Get a head start on winterizing your home so you aren’t caught in the cold. Also remember to do quarterly maintenance to keep your house and appliances running smoothly!
Outdoor Tasks
Walk around your home’s exterior and check the crawl space vents located at the foundation to close any that are open.
Check windows and doors for any cracks in the frames or separation from the home. Caulk and/or make needed repairs.
Clear debris from gutters to ensure water flow. Removing build-up prevents icicles and ice dams from forming later and damaging gutters.
Shut off outdoor water pipes to prevent freezing.
Protect your central air conditioning unit with a cover.
Store unneeded patio furniture/cushions, garden tools and summer toys.
Move snow shovels and snow blowers to a convenient spot.
Resist the urge to cut back shrubs and garden debris. Doing so now
can impact spring growth.
Indoor Tasks
Change or clean furnace filters to ensure maximum efficiency through the cold winter months.
Check ceiling fans to make sure they will run CLOCKWISE during the winter months. This pushes hot air from the ceiling towards the floor.
Purchase a window insulation kit. Window film and/or weatherstripping tape can help prevent major loss of heat through windows/frames, ensuring a warmer house and lower energy bills.
Find draft guards to reduce air flow at the base of doors.
Install a programmable thermostat to control temps when you aren’t home.
Do quarterly cleaning of kitchen appliances inside and out, including refrigerator coils.
Maintain clean drains by adding one-half-cup baking soda followed by one-half-cup white vinegar. After 10 minutes, flush with boiling water.