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Give your home a winter once-over and tend to repairs before the year’s first frost. “Getting the exterior of the home ready for the cold winds, snow and ice is critical for keeping Old Man Winter out and keeping it warm and toasty inside,” says Reggie Marston, president of Residential Equity Management Home Inspections in Springfield, Va. By being proactive, you’ll lower your energy bills, increase the efficiency and lifespan of your home’s components and make your property safer.
Click here for a printable checklist PDF to hang on your fridge.
Windows and Doors
- Check all the weatherstripping around windows and doorframes for leaks to prevent heat loss. Replace weatherstripping, if necessary.
- Examine wooden window frames for signs of rot or decay. Repair or replace framing to maintain structural integrity.
- Check for drafts around windows and doors. Caulk inside and out, where necessary, to keep heat from escaping. Learn more about sealing air leaks.
- Inspect windows for cracks, broken glass or gaps and repair or replace, if needed.
Lawn, Garden and Deck
- Trim overgrown branches back from the house and electrical wires to prevent iced-over or wind-swept branches from causing property damage.
- Aerate the lawn, reseed and apply a winterizing fertilizer to promote deep-root growth come spring. Read more details about winterizing your yard.
- Ensure rain or snow drains away from the house to avoid foundation problems. The dirt grade around the exterior of your home should slope away from the house. Add extra dirt to low areas, as necessary.
- Clean and dry patio furniture. Cover with a heavy tarp or store inside a shed or garage to protect it from the elements.
- Clean soil from planters. Bring pots made of clay or other fragile materials indoors. Because terracotta pots can swell and crack, lay them on their sides in a wood carton.
- Dig up flower bulbs, brush off soil and label. Store bulbs in a bag or box with peat moss in a cool, dry place for spring replanting.
- Remove any attached hoses and store them away for the winter to prevent cracks, preserve their shapes and prolong their lifespans. Wrap outside faucets with covers to prevent water damage.
- Shut off exterior faucets. Drain water from outdoor pipes, valves and sprinkler heads to protect against pipe bursts.
- Inspect decks for splintering, decay or insect damage and treat, if needed, to prevent further deterioration over the winter. Learn how to replace a damaged deck board.
- Clean leaves, dirt and pine needles between the boards of wooden decks to thwart mold and mildew growth. Here are some tips for using a Wet-Dry Vac for the job.
- Inspect outdoor lighting around the property. Good illumination will help minimize the chance of accidents on icy walkways at night.
Tools and Machinery
- Bring all seasonal tools inside and spray them with a coating of lightweight oil to prevent rust.
- Move your snow blower and shovels to the front of the garage or shed for easy access.
- Sharpen ice chopper and inspect snow shovels to make sure they’re ready for another season of work.
- Prepare the snow blower for the first snowfall by changing the oil and replacing the spark plug. Learn how to maintain your snowblower.
- Make sure you have an ample supply of ice melt or sand on hand for steps, walkways and the driveway.
Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning
- Inspect the firebox and flue system to ensure they’re clean of any soot or creosote and there aren't any cracks or voids that could cause a fire hazard. Learn how to clean a chimney or wood stove.
- Check fireplace for drafts. If it’s cold despite the damper being closed, the damper itself may be warped, worn or rusted. Consider installing a chimney balloon into the flue to air seal the area tightly.
- Bleed valves on any hot-water radiators to increase heating efficiency by releasing air that may be trapped inside.
- Check that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order.
- Remove air conditioners from windows or cover them with insulated liners, to prevent drafts.
- Install foam-insulating sheets behind outlets and switch plates on exterior walls to reduce outside airflow. Learn more about home sealing and insulation.
- Make sure fans are switched to the reverse or clockwise position, which will blow warm air down to the floor for enhanced energy efficiency and comfort.
- Flush a hot water heater tank to remove sediment, and check the pressure relief valve to make sure it’s in proper working order.
- Examine exposed ducts in the attic, basement and crawlspaces, and use a sealant to plug up any leaks.
Gutters, Roof and Drains
- Check for missing, damaged or warped shingles and replace, as necessary before you get stuck with a leak.
- Check for deteriorated flashing at the chimney, walls, skylights and around vent pipes. Seal joints with roofing cement and a caulking gun where water could penetrate.
- Check the gutters and downspouts for proper fastening, and re-secure if loose or sagging. The weight of snow and ice can pull gutters off the house.
- Clean gutters of any debris. Make sure downspouts extend away from the house by at least 5 feet to prevent flooding of the foundation and water damage from snowmelt.
- Clean leaves and debris from courtyard and pool storm drains to prevent blockages.
- Ensure all vents and openings are covered to prevent insects, birds and rodents from getting inside to nest in a warm place.
Done? Congratulations, you're officially ready for winter.
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Text by Iyna Bort Caruso
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