Preparing Your Home for Winter

You're probably asking yourself: "Are you crazy, Gene?  Why would I be thinking about preparing my / home for winter when it's still nice and sunny summer weather?"  Truth is, summer is just about over.  Fall will soon be upon us and the cold winter months are not too far behind.  Preparing your home for winter now means you'll be ready before there is a possible problem.

Gutter Check - Inspect your rain gutters for debris (leaves, trash, etc).  A clean gutter will allow water to run off easily.  Standing water on a roof can cause serious damage that would need expensive repair.

Landscaping - Prune your trees and bushes, especially on overhanging tree limbs.  With winter weather in / comes the very real possibility of icicles.  Icicles weigh down branches, which can break and cause damage to your home.  Also, fertilize and/or reseed your lawn for maximum growth, especially if you're thinking about trying to sell your home during the fall and winter months.  This will help your home stand out from the rest by creating good curb appeal even during cold weather.

Outdoor Spaces - Give your deck, sidewalk and driveway a good sturdy cleaning to remove the summer grit and grime.  Store away patio furniture that isn't made for colder weather.  Make space in your garage or shed, store cushions in tightly wrapped plastic and cover everything with a tarp to keep condensation away.

Chimney Sweep - More likely than not, you haven't used your fireplace since spring.  Before the weather turns chilly, have your chimney thoroughly cleaned out to remove buildup.  You want to keep the fire in the fireplace and not have it spread to the rest of your / home.

Your Home's Heating System and Pipes - Change the filters on your heating unit for more efficient air flow.  Check the insulation on your pipes to avoid freezing during the winter months.  Frozen pipes can burst, which can be incredibly costly to fix.

Windows and Doors - Now is the time to check for air leaks around windows and doors.  Re-caulk the areas around your windows.  Replace old, cracked weatherstripping around doors and windows as well.  Adding weatherstripping to the bottom of your exterior doors can help reduce air leaks.

Preparing your home for winter now will help you reduce potential expensive problems later.  Northern Virginia and South Carolina experience all kinds of weather throughout the year.  That's one of the things that makes it so great to live here.

Originally posted on my Word Press blog here: http://northernvirginiahomes.net/2011/09/08/preparing-your-home-for-winter/.