Summer is fading and the official first day of fall is right around the corner so we want to be sure to help homeowners prepare their homes for winter. We recently shared an outdoor checklist and thought an indoor checklist would also be a good idea. So if you own a home, review this list and you’ll be ready if an early winter comes our way.
- If you have a green thumb and garden, it’s time to gather your canning supplies and preserve your harvest.
- Replace any furnace or AC filters.
- Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Give your heating system a trial run. You want to identify any issues before it gets cold enough to need it!
- Once the warm weather is gone for good, close up all AC vents.
- Disconnect, drain and bring hoses inside.
- Do you have a frost-free hose bib? These are a great idea so that you can shut off any outdoor valves and prevent them from freezing. If you don’t have one, now is a great time to get one installed.
- If it has been a while since you have had your fireplace and chimney cleaned and serviced, you might want to schedule that appointment soon.
- Winter comes quick so you want to be sure you have what you need to survive an unexpected cold snap.
- Do you have plenty of coal on hand or fire wood cut and ready?
- Stock up on canned goods, water, and batteries to have on hand just in case.
- Double-check to be sure your children’s winter coat and snow boots still fit, if not you might want to set aside a few dollars in your budget so that you can purchase them.
- Make your own checklist and timeline for getting any important tasks done. For example if you normally put snow tires on your car, set an alert in your phone to remind you to get them swapped out.
- If you haven’t already, read our outdoor checklist, you can find it here. Below are a few of our most important tips:
- If you have a generator, now is the time to have it serviced so you know that it is ready for you when you need it.
- Make sure your snowblower and/or snowplow have undergone their yearly maintenance.
- Be sure your sander and or salter is working and that you have plenty of sand (or salt) on hand.
- Now is the time to make sure your gutters are clean and debris free. It may be a good idea to schedule a final cleaning in November or December.
- It is also a good idea to be sure all windows and doors are in good operating order and that they seal properly when closed.
- Winter comes quick so you want to be sure you have what you need to survive an unexpected cold snap.
