16 Tips for preparing your home for winter

As fall draws to a close and winter draws near here are some useful tips for protecintg your home from the elements.

1. CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS

Remove all debris that have accumulated in gutters and downspouts. This will ensure that gutters can drain effectively and the water gathered goes to where you want it. A blocked gutter will result in water overflows and can lead to expensive damage from ice dams.

Check that gutters are in good condition (no sags or missing brackets) and repair where necessary. Take care when climbing ladders. If you are wary of heights, hire a professional to get the job done.

2. CHECK YOUR ROOF

Visually examine your roof for any obvious signs of damage, such as missing or buckled shingles. You can eyeball the roof from a distance and should not need to climb all the way up.

Replace loose shingles and repair damaged portions immediately to avoid more serious problems that can occur when the snow starts to accumulate and freeze and thaw cycles begin.

3. DRAIN GARDEN HOSES

Garden hoses should be removed from outdoor faucets, drained of water and stored away indoors, such as in a garage. When garden hoses are not disconnected, the water in them can freeze and expand resulting in burst hoses and/or cracked pipes.

If your outdoor faucets have shut-off valves located on the inside of your home, turn them off. Consider insulating water pipes that are close to exterior walls. Also, remember to turn of the sprinkler system.

4. PREPARE GAS-OPERATED TOOLS FOR WINTER STORAGE

Home tools and equipment should be checked before storing them away for the winter. If they are gas-powered, either drain the gas (fuel) or add a fuel stabilizer to ensure that old fuel does not degrade and make your equipment difficult to start in spring.

If you use a stabilizer, run the equipment for a few minutes to ensure the stabilizer gets to the carburetor.

5. TUNE UP YOUR FURNACE

You do not want to wait until temperatures drop before ensuring that your furnace is working efficiently. Replace the filter and if the furnace has not been serviced in the last year, hire a professional to conduct a full tune-up.

6. FEED AND MAINTAIN YOUR LAWN

The grass on your lawn start to store food for the winter as temperatures drop, so you should be fertilizing once or twice in fall to ensure your lawn greens up faster in spring.

Rake tree leaves to prevent them from killing off your lawn and/or encouraging disease spread. You can also choose to mulch the leaves using a mower. Overseed the lawn if required, aerate, and mow one last time, leaving about 3” before the first snowfall.

7. PREPARE YOUR DECK

If you live in the cold North, your deck is going to be covered in snow and ice for a few months during winter. Fall is a good time to give your deck a good wash and get rid of debris and mould. Repair any rotted boards, and depending on the condition, fall is great for staining and sealing your deck.

8. STOW-AWAY PATIO FURNITURE

Remove patio furniture and keep them away in a garage or other enclosed space for the winter. These include hammocks, umbrellas, cushions, and others. You can also protect them using weather-proof covers.

9. WINTERIZE YOUR AIR CONDITIONER

Disconnect the air conditioning unit from power to prevent it from powering up during the winter months and getting damaged. If you want to save yourself clean-up time in spring, clean out all debris now and put a protective cover over the AC to prevent damage from snow and ice. A sheet of plywood also works.

For window units, you can remove them completely, or cover to prevent drafts.

10. MAINTAIN YOUR FIREPLACE AND CHIMNEY

Check your fireplace and ensure it is working okay. You may need to hire a professional to inspect and sweep your chimney to get rid of accumulated debris, including soot, leaves, and bird nests. This will prevent dangerous chimney fires and also dangerous gases from seeping into your home.

If you have a firewood fireplace, now is the time to stock up on firewood. Store firewood in a safe place.

11. MAINTAIN SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are in good working order. Replace batteries with new ones. Windows are closed in winter and with gas furnaces and fireplaces burning away, the danger of noxious gases escaping is always present.