With winter on the horizon, it’s essential to ready your home for the upcoming colder months. Taking a few proactive steps now can ensure the smooth functioning of your home in the face of winter storms and chilly temperatures. Here are some measures to get your home winter-ready.
1. Stop cold air from getting in
Prevent cold air infiltration by addressing any drafts promptly. If you sense a chilly breeze indoors, take action at the first sign of the issue before temperatures plummet further. Inspect and fix caulking around doors and windows, ensuring you use the appropriate, paintable caulking. Deliberate on incorporating weather-stripping around window and door frames to retain warmth and exclude cold air. Moreover, it’s advisable to shut your foundation vents to preserve the warmth within your home.
2. Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
With more wood fires and heater use, this is a great time to make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. Test and replace the batteries as needed and set a reminder on your phone to check them each month. Friendly reminder, your units need to be replaced after 10 years, so replace units as needed.
3. Have your chimney cleaned.
Before you light the first fire of the season, have your chimney cleaned by a certified professional. Regular cleaning is a necessary safety measure for wood-burning fireplaces and wood stoves. Over time, creosote can build up in your chimney which increases the risk of a house fire. Gas fireplaces should also be inspected – even though gas is a clean-burning fuel, there could be other debris blocking the chimney.
4. Make sure water is draining away from your home.
On the next rainy day, take a walk around your home to ensure water is draining away from your home. Cracks can form in your foundation when water seeps in and freezes. If you notice any water near your foundation, use sandbags to temporarily keep the water away. Plan for some outdoor work on the next dry day or in the spring to fix whatever is causing water to settle near your home.
5. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are draining properly and not overflowing.
While you’re checking your home for proper water drainage, look up to see how your gutters are holding up. On the next dry day, clean gutters of any debris and make sure downspouts extend away from the house to avoid water build-up around the foundation. You may need to repeat this if your home has a lot of trees around it. Ensure your gutters and downspouts are properly fastened and not lose or sagging, repair as needed. Check out our guide on How to clean your Gutters for more information.
6. Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
With more wood fires and heater use, this is a great time to make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. Test and replace the batteries as needed and set a reminder on your phone to check them each month. Friendly reminder, your units need to be replaced after 10 years, so replace units as needed.