Winter Home Maintenance Tips

As fall sets in and colder weather approaches in the Twin Cities NW Metro, its the perfect time to be thinking about your winter home maintenance. Here’s a quick checklist of things that you can do to protect your home during the colder months.

• Clean Gutters and Downspouts: Clear leaves, debris, and other blockages to ensure proper drainage. This can help prevent ice dams and water damage.
• Service your Heating System and Fireplace: Clean or replace furnace filters. Schedule a professional inspection and maintenance for your furnace. This ensures it’s working efficiently and safely. Have a professional check your fireplace chimney for any obstructions or damage and clean out any soot and debris for safe use.
• Drain and Shut Off Outdoor Faucets and Winterize Irrigation System: Disconnect hoses, drain water from outdoor faucets, and turn off the water supply to prevent freezin g and potential pipe damage. Blow the water out of your irrigation system or hire a professional to winterize it.
• Stock Up on Winter Supplies: Purchase rock salt, snow shovels, gas for your snowblower and other winter supplies in advance.
• Consider hanging holiday lights now. It’s much easier to hang lights outside when its warmer and there is no ice and snow to contend with.
• Seal Windows and Doors: Check for drafts and seal any gaps or cracks with weather-stripping or caulking. This helps to keep warm air in and cold air out.
• Check and Insulate Attic and Walls: Insulate your attic and walls to prevent heat loss. This can significantly reduce heating costs and keep your home more comfortable.
• Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Replace batteries and test both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they’re working properly.
• Reverse Ceiling Fans: Set ceiling fans to rotate clockwise to help distribute warm air more effectively.
• Trim Trees and Bushes: Trim branches that are close to your home or could potentially be weighed down by snow and ice.
• Clean and Store Outdoor Furniture: Clean and store outdoor furniture to protect it from winter weather.
• Prepare for Power Outages: Have essentials like flashlights, candles, blankets, and non-perishable food items on hand in case of power outages.