Our “Prepare Your Home For Winter” Checklist

10 Tasks To Prepare Your Home For Winter

Before long, fall will turn to winter and the weather will become cold. Now is the time to start preparing your home for winter. Instead of waiting until the last minute, knockout a few items every week and be ready when the cold weather hits. Prepare your home for winter now.

Here are 10 important things to do now to get your home ready for winter:

1. Turn off the outside water – Go to the interior cut-off water valve and close it. Man homes have two, one for the front and one for the back, make sure to get both of them. Leave the outside faucet open about a quarter turn to allow it to breath.

2. Put away the garden hoses – Drain and put your garden hoses away in the garage or shed. It is important to drain all of the water out of them so it does not freeze and expand, causing the hose to split.
3. Order fire wood – Only buy dry, seasoned hardwood. It burns longer and safer. Good sources in our area include Season’s Nursery in Gaithersburg and Potomac Garden Center in North Potomac.
4. Call A Chimney Sweep -Before you burn the Yule log, make sure your fireplace (or any heating appliance burning gas, oil, wood or coal), chimney and vents are clean and in good repair. That will prevent chimney fires and prevent carbon monoxide from creeping into your home.
5. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans - If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch, use it to run the fan's blades in a clockwise direction after you turn on your heat. The fan will produce an updraft and push down into the room heated air from the ceiling (remember, hot air rises).
6. Caulk Around Windows & Doors - If the gaps between siding and window or door frames are bigger than the width of a nickel, you need to re-apply exterior caulk. (Check the joints in window and door frames, too.) Silicone caulk is best for exterior use because it won’t shrink and it’s impervious to the elements.
7. Move Water Away From Your House - Add extensions to downspouts so that water runs at least 3 to 4 feet away from the foundation
8. Restock Snow and Ice Supplies - Don’t wait for the first winter storm to restock cold-weather essentials such as salt or ice melt. Check the condition of your snow shovels and buy new ones if need be. Start up your snow blower and make sure you have fresh gas for it.
9. Wrap Your Windows – Use shrinkable plastic wrap to further seal your windows against drafts.

10. Have Your Furnace Serviced – Make sure it is running smoothly and efficiently in order to use it the most economically.

These are all very simple and very easy things that you can do to make sure your home is ready for winter. Bundle up!