7 Steps To Prep Your Home for Winter

Opening my windows and letting in the fresh air is always one of my favorite parts of the Fall season. Personally, I like to challenge myself and see how far I can go into the cooler months before I FINALLY turn on the heat for winter. While summers are always so much fun, eventually my body gets sick of the heat, and I begin looking forward to cozying up inside.

After so much demand on our air conditioners and intense heat on our lawns, the Fall season welcomes cool crisp air and an overall slowing down as we head into the winter months. Before the cold weather arrives, here are 7 home maintenance tips to complete during the Fall. 

Have Your Furnace Inspected – Getting yearly check ups on your furnace will make sure it stays clean and keeps running safely and efficiently. No one wants a furnace to break down in the middle of the freezing winter months!

Check Your Air Filter – A dirty air filter can prevent furnaces from working efficiently. A clogged air filter may force a furnace to work twice as hard to heat an entire home. Most furnace filters can be found on Amazon (sold in packs) for an inexpensive price. The size of the air filter needed should be right on the edge of the filter.

Put Away Outdoor Furniture – While some chairs can linger for those perfect autumn nights with s’mores and neighbors, late fall is an ideal time to start wiping down and storing furniture. If storage space allows, put away patio furniture in either the garage or basement to keep it in better shape over a longer period of time. Stone or steel furniture materials can crack or rust in harsh weather especially around lots of snow. 

Aerate and Overseed Lawn  –  Taking special care of your lawn before the chilly winter months can keep your lawn green and lush for the following Spring. Aeration and overseeding work together to reduce soil compaction and thicken up grass over an existing lawn without disturbing the original soil. This simple step can stimulate regeneration and invigorate your grass for next year.

Cover Outdoor Water Faucets – In the cold winter weather, outdoor faucets can be left vulnerable to freezing and bursting. Shut off the internal valve, drain the faucet and empty any attached hoses before storing them for winter. Hardware stores sell inexpensive faucet caps that easily install over outdoor faucets.

Clean Up Gardens and Flower Beds – Removing excess garden debris helps keep a garden free of pests and rotting plants. Take a day to rake up leaves in your yard. Wet leaves sitting for an extended period of time will decompose and attract bugs and pests. Not only will your yard look tidier but clearing out dead plants and weeds will prevent new growth when Spring returns.

Spray For Bugs – Before the outside spiders and pests can start making their way into your home for warmth, spray the exterior foundation, siding and shutters with pest repellant. Over time, bugs can really wear down the look and integrity of a home. As a realtor, I highly recommend having a professional pest repellent spray twice a year for bugs on the exterior and occasionally on the inside if needed.