Prepping Your Home For Winter!

The leaves are changing colors, the temperatures have cooled and we all have had at least one pumpkin spice latte by now. Fall is a wonderful time of year and a favorite of many, but it also means that winter is approaching. Preparing your home early for winter is always smart! Here are some things worth doing around your home before the snow falls:

Picture Credit: Pinterest

1.  Have you had your heating systems/generator serviced recently? Better to be proactive and catch a potential problem vs. being faced with a home with no heat. 

2.  Paint, caulk and seal exterior surfaces.

3.  Have a plan to rake and remove leaves if they are not being mulched while mowing (which is better). Leaves piled up over the winter are mostly not good for lawns, driveways and roofs/gutters.

4.  When last was your chimney cleaned? Do you have enough firewood to get you through the season?

5.  Do you have sufficient fuel supplies for heating?

6.  Do you have an emergency 5-day kit and plan for a potential power outage or blizzard?

7.  Seal masonry and hard surfaces.

8.  Change batteries for smoke alarms and smoke detectors or set a date to do so if your systems are not hard-wired.

9.  Schedule a date to shut down your pool.

10. Schedule a date to shut down irrigation systems and drain exterior pipes/faucets. Mark all shut-off valves clearly for future ease of use.

11.  Check your trees for weak or dead limbs that could break easily with the weight of snow/ice/wind and remove them. Don't prune/shape trees until later in Winter.

12.  Store all equipment and sharpen tools early for the spring use.

13.  Check your home for energy leaks that could reduce your heating bills.

14.  Stock up on supplies for snow and ice removal and confirm your plowing schedule/contract.

15.  Do you have an updated list of emergency numbers to call?

16.  Do you have a power back-up for your phone/electronics.

17.  Cover or store outdoor furniture.

18.  Plan a date to mark your driveway for the snow plower.

19.  Reverse ceiling fans.

20.  Test your sump pump.

If you need help finding reputable vendors to help, the Vesta Home Team has you covered! We have contacts we can refer to help with anything around your home when you're preparing for Winter. Reach out for an HVAC recommendation to have your furnace cleaned or a recommendation for a snow plow contractor!