Winter Preparations Around the Home

The day light hours are getting shorter.  The geese are flying over.  Usually my house at 5:00 AM.  The leaves are beginning to change colors and fall.  We know that the change of the seasons is around the corner.

Getting ready for the winter is a busy time for the home owner.  Here is a few things you may want to check on before the winter weather is upon us.

Turn off the water to the outside faucets.

There should be a valve in the basement to turn the water off inside the house.  There is also a little bleeder valve on the side of the valve.  Open it allow the pressure to release if freezing causes the water inside the pipe to expand.  Make sure you check it in to make sure there is no leaking after shutting the water off.  And make sure you close the bleeder valve before opening the valve in the spring.

Clean out the gutters.

If the gutters are clogged it could cause damage during the winter.  Freezing water trapped in the gutters can back up under the shingles of the roof.  Overflowing water will drop down along the foundation.  Freezing and thawing water along the foundation is the major cause of damaged walls in the basement.

Check the weather stripping around doors and windows.

Touch up any paint and caulking.  This is a good time to have the chimney checked and resealed if required.

Check the snow blower, shovels, salt and sand supplies for the driveway and walk ways.  Also the ice scrapper in the car.  Check the tires, antifreeze and the windshield wipers on your car.  Be prepared before the cold catches you off guard.

Check the coats, boots, hats and gloves.  Make sure they still fit the kids.

We had a tough enough winter last year.  Maybe we will be spared this year.