Use this simple checklist below to prepare your home for the cold weather season. Some of these are necessary as we move into cold weather and others will help set you up for an easier transition to spring and summer after the snow melts.
Don’t forget to sit back and enjoy some warm cider or mulled wine when you’re done and admire your handy work!
Exterior Maintenance
- Check the foundation of your home for cracks. If found caulk around the areas where the masonry meets siding or where pipes and wires enter the house.
- Install storm windows and doors, remove screens.
- Clean and repair any screens that need it (that way you’ll be ready to go come spring!)
- Inspect exterior walls for any peeling or blistering paint, note for next year.
- Have a licensed, certified roofing specialists check the condition of your roof. If you need repairs you can be first on the list for spring, or maybe even fit in their schedule before the snow flies.
- After the last leaf falls clear out your gutters and flush them with water. Be sure to inspect the downspouts and gutters for leaks and tighten up any brackets that may be loose.
- Weather-strip the garage door.
- Inspect your driveway for cracks, clean out, and repair any damage with driveway filler.
Interior Maintenance
- Check for the proper sealing and insulation on all windows and doors, and apply weather stripping or caulk where needed.
- Have a heating contractor check your system, including the furnace and all ducts.
- Examine your wood stove or fireplace. Make sure the door gasket is tight, inspect glass for cracks, and hire a chimney sweep.
- Change the direction of your ceiling fan to create an upward draft to redistribute warm air.
- Check that the attic is insulated, ventilated, and critter-free.
- Test and change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Vacuum internal parts of air conditioners and make sure it’s wrapped under a tarp.
- Clean your humidifiers regularly during the heating season – to avoid bacteria.
