HOW TO GET YOUR HOUSE WINTER READY
Whether you’ve just moved into a new home or you simply want to get your home ready for the long, cold winter, it is important to start winterizing your home. The financial benefits are worth the time you put preparing your home. Although we can’t offer a thick sweater to put around your house, we’ve got the tips to help you survive through this season. Here are our 5 tips to get you started:
Plumbing Preparation
One of the most important steps of winterizing your home starts with outdoors. Drain the water from your outdoor faucets and garden hoses. Roll-up the garden hoses and store them inside (shed, garage, etc.). This will prevent cracks, preserve their shapes and prolong their use. Use heat tape on pipes that are prone to freezing. Make sure everyone in the house knows how to turn off the water at the source in case of pipe bursts.
Cleaning & Storing
Clean and dry your patio furniture and cover it with a heavy tarp or better yet, store it inside the shed or the garage if you have space. This is also a good time to move your pots made of clay indoors so they do not crack. If you have other items such as a rubber pool, toys, decor etc., move those inside as well for protection.
Heat things up
If you have a fireplace in your house, lucky you! Ensure it is clean or have a professional inspect it. Check chimney draft. Make sure the chimney will draw up the fire and smoke properly. This is also a good time to stock up on firewood. If your furnace has a filter, check to see if it needs to be cleaned or replaced as this will improve indoor air quality. If you have an older thermostat, replace it with a programmable or setback thermostat unit to save on heating costs. If you want to go the extra-mile, install foam-insulating sheets behind outlets on exterior walls to reduce air flow. This will save you money in the long run.
Insulate and Seal
Insulate your home! Use caulking or weather-stripping around all entry points to the house from the exterior. This includes windows, door frames etc. This will block those entry-points from heat loss. Ensure all vents and openings are covered to prevent insects, birds, and rodents from getting inside to nest in a warm place.
Garage Essentials
Move all seasonal tools such as rakes, spades, and forks inside and make sure they are free of mud, leaves, grass or debris. Now is the time to move your snowblower and shovels to the front of the garage where they are the most accessible. You can prepare your snow blower for the first snowfall by changing the oil. Also, ensure you have enough supply of ice salt or sand for the driveway, walkway and stair steps.
If you need any storing supplies or need help moving your seasonals around the house, The Six Moving is here to help. For information on how to store other seasonal items such as clothes, check out this blog post. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks!
