Winterizing Your Home in Fall

Posted by Help Now on Tuesday, September 24th, 2013 at 3:58am.

I'm sure you have noticed the dropping temperatures. Protecting your home against cold weather can prevent costly damage, reduce your monthly heating costs, and increase the value of your home. There are many things you should do before the big freeze hits. Here are some valuable tips you can use this Fall to prepare for winter temperatures. For the Yard:

  • Clear debris from exterior walkways, decks, and steps. When winter hits you don't want to be shoveling up leaves and debris with the snow.
  • Use fall leaves as mulch for your lawn. As the leaves start to fall consider mowing them into mulch instead of raking them into bags. These mulched leaves can provide nutrients for the soil during the winter to help your lawn next spring.
  • Trim Trees limbs: Tree limbs will droop with the weight of snow. Make sure you trim trees that are close to or touch your house.
  • Clear rain gutters which get clogged throughout the year. Make sure you clean them out before the snow hits. Clogged gutters will prevent proper drainage and could cause excessive ice. Some rain gutters cannot handle this extra weight and you may have roof repairs to make next spring. 
  • Point Downspouts away from house: When snow melts and ice forms, downspouts can become ice-sculptures. Make sure downspouts are directed away from the house to prevent the formation of an ice-skating rink on your driveway.
  • Inspect Roof: Before it is covered in snow it is good to look for leaks and faulty shingles on the roof. 
  • Winterize equipment such as lawn mowers and power equipment after your final lawn care projects are complete. 
  • Turn off irrigation systems and drain water from pipes, hoses, and evaporative coolers. If external pipes and sprinklers are not drained before the first freeze they can burst. 
  • Store outdoor items such as lawn furniture and water hoses in a dry place. 
  • Get out the snow removal equipment and make sure it is ready to use. This includes snow blower, fuel, snow shovels and ice melt. Keep them in an easily accessible location.

For the Exterior:

  • Insulate attic: Most of the heat lost from the home is because of air exchange between the interior and exterior of your home. Heat passing through the roof and exterior walls accounts for most of this heat loss. Proper insulation will reduce the amount of heat lost. Because heat rises, having a properly insulated attic is the most effective way to keep heat in your home.
  • Prevent Escaping Air: Air moving through windows and exterior doors also causes a lot of lost heat. You can use weather stripping, insulating spray foam, preformed insulation, and caulk to keep in the heat. Focus around door and window openings and cracks/openings in exterior walls.
  • Energy-Efficient appliances: If you need a new water heater, furnace or another appliance, purchase an energy-efficient model.
  • Energy-Efficient windows & doors: There are also energy efficient models for replacing windows and exterior doors which can help reduce heating costs and improve the value of the home. 
  • Insulate water heater: You can improve the efficiency of water heaters and hot water pipes by wrapping them in insulation. This is especially important if they are in locations where they are exposed to cold temperatures.
  • Reinstall storm doors: Did you remove any of your storm doors or windows during the warm weather? Make sure to reinstall them now while the weather is still warm. 

For the Interior:

  • Furnace inspection: Make sure you get your furnace inspected now by a licensed heating professional. You want this done before you need it for warmth. Cleaning heating ducts and furnace equipment will improve the efficiency of the furnace by increasing air flow. At a minimum you should inspect your furnace filter and make sure all of your vents are clear.
  • Stock up on fuel: If you use propane or some other fuel to heat your home, make sure you refill the storage tank now. 
  • Chimneys: If you have a fireplace, make sure your dampers close tight to keep warm air from escaping. If you plan to use the fireplace keep the chimney clean and free of obstructions. It is best to have a professional chimney sweep clean your fireplace and chimney to reduce the risk of starting a fire.
  • Update thermostat: If you haven't already, install a programmable thermostat to regulate the furnace operation throughout the day. Depending on your heating system, zone heating can also be used so that room temperatures vary depending on their frequency of use and time of day. There are other devices that remember what temperatures you like and turn the furnace down automatically when you're away.
  • Protect plumbing: If you have had cold weather problems with plumbing fixtures in the past, protect them by installing heat tape or extra insulation.
  • Check emergency supplies: It is also a good time to check and replace your emergency supplies such as fire extinguishers, batteries, candles, flashlights as well as propane lanterns or heaters.

   

About the Author:

Utah Dave - Neighborhood ExpertUtah Dave - Daybreak Neighboorhood Expert and Local Resident

My friends nicknamed me Utah Dave in high school because they said it didn't matter where we went in Utah, I would know how to get there and who we needed to talk to. The name sticks today as UtahDave has formed into a professional real estate network of Neighborhood Experts all across the state. I live in Daybreak with my wife and 4 amazing children. I enjoy dancing (which is how I met my wife Dawn) as well as traveling, coaching, and learning.

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