We’ve gotten lucky so far this winter, with one of the mildest Decembers on record. But sooner or later, January is going to start feeling like January, and that means making sure your house is ready to endure the cold.
If you’re wondering what you can do to prepare your home for winter, we’ve come up with this handy checklist for you. Complete these tasks before the really cold weather sets in to keep it from taking its toll on your home!
Turn off your sprinkler system. You’d be surprised how often this slips people’s minds! Don’t forget to drain the sprinkler system to prevent freezing or other issues. You want to use those hoses again next year, right?
Make sure your carbon monoxide detector is functioning. Did you know carbon monoxide-related deaths peak in winter? This owes to the heightened use of portable generators and the use of the kitchen oven to heat the home. Install detectors on every floor and make sure they work!
Keep an emergency kit in the home. Lots of bottled water, blankets, battery-powered flashlights and radios, flares, energy bars, a pocketknife rope, jumper cables, a lighter, rock salt, and sand are essential.
Get the gutters cleaned and repair the leaky roof. Both of these are vital to preventing flooding inside the home once snow starts piling up.
Repair cracks, leaks, and drafts from your windows and doors. If cracks near your windows are letting in cold air, you’re going to know it soon! Get these fixed to make your home warmer and more energy efficient.
Schedule a checkup for your HVAC system. Have an HVAC pro tune up your heater and change the filters to keep it working at its most efficient! And to keep it from breaking down in the middle of February.
Insulate your pipes. Wrap them in insulation, newspaper, or even plastic to lower the chance of your pipes freezing. Also, keep the faucets dripping warm water on those really cold nights.
Stock up on rock salt. Then be sure to sprinkle your walkways and driveways the day before a snowstorm.
Make sure your snow removal tools are ready to rock. A reliable snow blower, shovel, and ice scraper are must-haves for surviving a Pennsylvania winter.
Consider equipping your car with snow tires. These are well worth the cost if your job forces you to drive through the snow and ice.
Prepare your home for winter! Call up the Very Cool Guys and we’ll winterize home so you’re ready for anything: (888) 936-7824!
Photo: June Marie, Flickr Creative Commons
