Preparing Your Home for Winter

The fall Equinox is a good time of year to start thinking about preparing your home for winter, because as temperatures begin to dip, your home will require maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape through the winter.

Here are some tips to help you prepare your home for winter:

1) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows
*Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
*Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.
*Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood.

2) Service Weather-Specific Equipment
*Drain gas from lawnmowers.
*Service or tune-up snow blowers.
*Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.
*Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.
*Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand.

3) Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
*Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends.
*Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and / or water heater.
*Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work.
*Buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher older than 10 years.

4) Prevent Plumbing Freezes
*Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
*Drain all garden hoses.
*Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
*Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.
*If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.

5) Prepare an Emergency Kit
*Buy indoor candles and matches / lighter for use during a power shortage.
*Find the phone numbers for your utility companies and tape them near your phone or inside the phone book.
*Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment.
*Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies (including pet food, if you have a pet), blankets and a first-aid kit in a dry and easy-to-access location.
*Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.