Winter is coming! The temperature has dropped, the holidays are about to begin, and the weather is awfully blustery. Officially, winter doesn’t begin until December 21st, so here are some tips to help you prepare for that freezing weather:
- Get your chimney cleaned.
- Have a professional roofer take a look at your roof if any shingles have blown off, you have seen dips in your roof, observed peeling or rusty flashing, or there are plants growing on the roof.
- Put your ceiling fan in reverse. If your fan is put into the clockwise rotation, warm air that has risen can be forced down.
- Remove your hose from the water source and stow it away. It’s already freezing at night, so make sure to do this rapidly.
- Turn off exterior faucets and drain your sprinkler system if you have one.
- Do a little “winter cleaning” of your home. Go ahead and do a deep cleaning now, before the freezing weather – that way you can air out your home as needed without having to experience freezing temperatures indoors.
- Make your windows, doors, and their frames airtight using caulk and weather stripping.
- Get your gutters cleaned out.
- Have your furnace inspected to make sure it’s all ready for wintertime.
- Clean out your attic and install any insulation it may need.
- Allow more light to filter into your home over the darkest time of the year by getting skylights installed.
- Be sure your downspouts and gutters are diverted so that water from your roof doesn’t seep into your foundation or basement.
- Beef up your compost heap with all the leaves you rake up.
- Stow your outdoor furniture and any gardening tools.
- Transplant anything in your yard now – before winter. Also, get any plants you were planning to put in the ground into your yard.
- Mulch any bare patches in your backyard.
So, get ready for fire lit nights, holidays, and company! Have a great winter.