Winter Maintenance

Winter Home Maintenance Checklist: Keep Your Home in Top Shape

Winter is a beautiful time of year with crisp snow, cozy fires, and holiday festivities. But with the cold temperatures, strong winds, and snowstorms that come with winter, protecting your home is essential. That's where a winter home maintenance checklist comes in handy.

Here are 18 essential tasks you should perform to prepare your home for winter:

1.       Check your heating system: One of the most critical steps to take before winter is ensuring your heating system is in good working order. You want to avoid being left in the cold when temperatures drop, so schedule an appointment with a licensed professional to inspect your heating system.

2.       Check the insulation: Good insulation can help reduce energy bills and keep your home warm. Check your attic, walls, and basement insulation for missing insulation, gaps, and air leaks.

3.       Check for air leaks: Air leaks can lead to higher heating bills and reduce the effectiveness of your insulation. Check around doors, windows, and other areas where air can escape. Use weatherstripping or caulking to seal any leaks.

4.       Clean gutters and downspouts: Clogged gutters and downspouts can lead to water damage to your home. Clean them out before winter to prevent ice dams and water damage.

5.       Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors: It's essential to ensure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working correctly. Replace batteries if needed.

6.       Trim trees and bushes: Dead trees or overhanging branches can fall during a winter storm and damage your home. Remove any overhanging branches or dead trees that could fall on your home.

7.       Check your roof: Inspect your roof for any damage or leaks. Ensure all shingles or tiles are secure and replace damaged areas.

8.       Prepare your pipes: Frozen pipes can cause significant damage to your home. Protect your pipes from freezing by insulating them or using heat tape. Drain any outdoor hoses and turn off the water supply to outdoor faucets.

9.       Clean the chimney: If you have a fireplace, clean and inspect your chimney before use. Inspecting your chimney will help prevent fires while ensuring the fireplace works safely and efficiently.

10.   Store outdoor furniture and equipment: Winter weather can damage outdoor furniture, grills, and other equipment. Store these items in a protected area to prevent damage.

11.   Ensure any firewood stored outdoors is at least 20 feet from your home's foundation.

12.   If your home uses gas, familiarize responsible family members with the location and operation of the main gas valve and other appliance valves.

13.   Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper, and the space under the dryer.

14.   Ensure the caulking or weather stripping around the windows and doors is adequate to keep down your heating and cooling costs.

15.   Ensure all electrical holiday decorations have tight connections and those connections are resistant to weather.

16.   Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter.

17.   Test all GFCI devices.

18.   Make sure the caulking around your bathroom fixtures is adequate to prevent water from creating any damage to flooring, sub-flooring, or counter and cabinet damage.

Following this winter home maintenance checklist, you can ensure your home's preparedness for winter and avoid potential damage or problems. With a bit of preparation, you can enjoy the beauty and warmth of winter from the comfort of your cozy, well-maintained home.