This is the time of the year everyone starts the annual process of “winterizing” their homes.  To help my clients best prepare for the winter months, I’ve come up with a list of a few things to make sure their homes are ready for the change in seasons.

  1. Have your furnace professionally serviced. This includes cleaning and checking the supply lines, furnace ducts, filters and thermostat.
  2. If you have a fireplace, have your chimney cleaned. Also have your fireplace damper checked to be sure it is opening and closing properly.
  3. Check the glass in your windows and doors, if any is cracked or broken replace it before the cold weather gets here, (Don’t forget your basement windows as well).
  4. Add weather stripping around the edges of doors and windows to prevent cold drafts from coming in during the winter.
  5. Clean leaves and debris out of your gutters so rain and melting snow this winter won’t freeze and pull them right off your house.
  6. Trim tree branches that are overhanging your roof or are close to electric or utility wires.
  7. Turn off the water supply to your outside taps and drain the water supply lines leading to them.
  8. Drain all your hoses and put them away in your shed or garage. If you have a lawn or garden sprinkler system, be sure to drain it and blow out the lines as well.
  9. Make sure your snow shovel is in good repair and replace it if it’s not. It’s also a good idea to spray your snow shovels with WD-40 or cooking spray to prevent snow from sticking when you’re shoveling.
  10. Buy some bags of salt, ice melt or sand so you can avoid the mad rush when that first snow fall comes.

Happy winter!

-Betsy Kerner

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