Give your home a once-over and tend to winter preparation tasks and repairs before the year’s first frost. “Getting the exterior of the home ready for the cold winds, snow and ice is critical for keeping Old Man Winter out and keeping it warm and toasty inside,” says Reggie Marston, president of Residential Equity Management Home Inspections in Springfield, VA. By being proactive, you’ll lower your energy bills, increase the efficiency and lifespan of your home’s components, and make your property safer.

Windows and Doors

• Check all the weatherstripping around windows and doorframes for leaks to prevent heat loss. Replace weatherstripping, if necessary.

• Replace all screen doors with storm doors.

• Replace all window screens with storm windows.

• Examine wooden window frames for signs of rot or decay. Repair or replace framing to maintain structural integrity.

• Check for drafts around windows and doors. Caulk inside and out, where necessary, to keep heat from escaping.

• Inspect windows for cracks, broken glass, or gaps. Repair or replace, if needed.

 

Lawn, Garden, and Deck

• Trim overgrown branches back from the house and electrical wires to prevent iced-over or wind-swept branches from causing property damage or a power problem.

• Aerate the lawn, reseed, and apply a winterizing fertilizer to promote deep-root growth come spring.

• Ensure rain or snow drains away from the house to avoid foundation problems. The dirt grade — around the exterior of your home — should slope away from the house. Add extra dirt to low areas, as necessary.

• Clean and dry patio furniture. Cover with a heavy tarp or store inside a shed or garage to protect it from the elements.

• Clean soil from planters. Bring pots made of clay or other fragile materials indoors. Because terra cotta pots can swell and crack, lay them on their sides in a wood carton.

• Dig up flower bulbs, brush off soil, and label. Store bulbs in a bag or box with peat moss in a cool, dry place for spring replanting.

• Remove any attached hoses and store them away for the winter to prevent cracks, preserve their shapes, and prolong their life. Wrap outside faucets with covers to prevent water damage.

• Shut off exterior faucets. Drain water from outdoor pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads to protect against pipe bursts.

• Inspect decks for splintering, decay, or insect damage and treat, if needed, to prevent further deterioration over the winter.

• Clean leaves, dirt, and pine needles between the boards of wooden decks to thwart mold and mildew growth.

• Inspect outdoor lighting around the property. Good illumination will help minimize the chance of accidents on icy walkways at night.

• Check handrails on exterior stairs to make sure they’re well secured.

 

Tools and Machinery

• Bring all seasonal tools inside and spray them with a coating of lightweight oil to prevent rust.

• Weatherize your lawn mower by cleaning off mud, leaves, grass, and debris.

• Move your snow blower and shovels to the front of the garage or shed for easy access.
• Prepare the snow blower for the first snowfall by changing the oil and replacing the spark plug.

• Sharpen ice chopper and inspect snow shovels to make sure they’re ready for another season of work.

• Make sure you have an ample supply of ice melt or sand on hand for steps, walkways, and the driveway.

 

Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning

• Inspect the firebox and flue system to ensure that they’re clean of any soot or creosote and that there aren’t any cracks or voids that could cause a fire hazard.

• Check fireplace for drafts. If it’s cold despite the damper being closed, the damper itself may be warped, worn, or rusted. Consider installing a Chimney Balloon into the flue to air seal the area tightly.

• Clean or replace the air filter in your furnace for maximum efficiency and improved indoor air quality.

• Clean your whole house humidifier and replace the evaporator pad.

• Bleed valves on any hot-water radiators to increase heating efficiency by releasing air that may be trapped inside.

• Check that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order.

• Remove air conditioners from windows or cover them with insulated liners, to prevent drafts.

• If you have an older thermostat, replace it with a programmable unit to save on heating costs.

• Install foam-insulating sheets behind outlets and switch plates on exterior walls to reduce outside airflow.

• Make sure fans are switched to the reverse or clockwise position, which will blow warm air down to the floor for enhanced energy efficiency and comfort.

• Flush a hot water heater tank to remove sediment, and check the pressure relief valve to make sure it’s in proper working order.

• Examine exposed ducts in the attic, basement, and crawl spaces, and use a sealant to plug up any leaks.

 

Gutters, Roof, and Drains

• Check for missing, damaged or warped shingles and replace, as necessary before you get stuck with a leak.

• Check for deteriorated flashing at the chimney, walls, and skylights and around vent pipes. Seal joints where water could penetrate, using roofing cement and a caulking gun.

• Check the gutters and downspouts for proper fastening, and re-secure if loose or sagging. The weight of snow and ice can pull gutters off the house.

• Clean gutters of any debris. Make sure downspouts extend away from the house by at least 5 feet to prevent flooding of the foundation and water damage from snowmelt.

• Clean leaves and debris from courtyard and pool storm drains to prevent blockages.

• Ensure all vents and openings are covered to prevent insects, birds, and rodents from getting inside to nest in a warm place.

Done? Congratulations!  You’re officially ready for winter.