Despite the “official” winter season still being a few weeks away, we have had our fair share of winter weather already this fall! We thought it may be helpful to review some important winter home maintenance tips for the 2020-2021 season.
Winterize Your Home
Indoor Maintenance Tips
- Have your furnace inspected and filters changed, and if necessary, cleaned to ensure it is in good working condition;
- Have your chimney and vents cleaned to ensure they are in good working condition to prevent fires and carbon monoxide from getting into your home;
- Reverse your ceiling fans to rotate clockwise, which will push warm air downwards;
- Insulate indoor pipes that are near windows or doors to prevent them from freezing;
- Test your sump pump, if applicable, to ensure it’s in good working condition;
- Flush and insulate your hot water tank;
- Check your whole-house humidifier, if applicable, to ensure it’s in good working order;
- Protect entryways from water and mud by placing mats inside and out;
- Check the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and test to ensure they are working ;
- Check plug-ins to ensure circuits are not overloaded, and replace any cables or extension cords with tears or cracks;
- Prepare for a storm or possible power outages with a safety kit, including water bottles, non-perishable food, a first aid kit, batteries, flashlight, and a portable phone charger;
- Consider purchasing a generator.
Outdoor Maintenance Tips
- Check your roof for damaged or loose/missing shingles that may leak during winter storms or from melting snow;
- Prevent ice damming with proper roof insulation and venting, and if prone to ice damming, install heating cables and use a roof rake to rake the snow off your roof;
- Caulk around windows and door frames to prevent drafts and leaks, and apply weather stripping around doors as needed;
- Clean gutters to avoid the backing up of water, leaks, or ice build up;
- Add extensions to downspouts so water runs at least three to four feet away from your home’s foundation;
- Turn off exterior faucets and disconnect and drain the hoses to prevent freezing;
- Inspect outdoor lighting to ensure it’s in good working condition;
- Repair outdoor steps and walkways and check handrails;
- Protect patio furniture by covering or storing indoors;
- Restock your winter essentials, such as salt, ice melt, and of course… shovels.
Yard Maintenance Tips
- If possible, mulch your leaves so that they decompose and nourish your lawn over winter;
- Trim dead tree limbs to prevent them from falling and damaging your home or yard in a storm;
- Protect outdoor pots and put away seasonal tools;
- Shovel snow away from your foundation to protect your home and prevent seepage.
Hopefully you have found these winter home maintenance tips helpful. If you have any to add to our list, we would love to hear them!
Thank you,
The Costen Insurance Team
