Winterizing Your Home Checklist

Being a homeowner means taking care of your home through every season. We have made it easy to know exactly what you need to do to prepare your home for winter with this simple how to winterize your house checklist:

Winter Home Prep List

Heating & Furnace

• Test the furnace or heat pump systems
• Clean any debris around units
• Change air filters
• Reverse ceiling fans
• Program thermostat to regulate temperatures when you are not home

Reversing your ceiling fans is a simple trick that can help you reduce your thermostat by a few degrees while still feeling warm. This is because the warm air in your home rises, and gets trapped along your ceiling. By changing your fan to turn clockwise you can push the air back down into the room, and keep that warm air moving.

Fireplace

• Hire a chimney sweep
• Check dampers & remove any debris
• Stock up on firewood
• Inspect your chimney cap
• Clean the blower
• Ensure you have a fire extinguisher nearby

Insulation

• Look for drafts
• Apply caulk/weather stripping where needed
• Remove & store window AC units
• Seal off the crawl space

Plumbing

• Winterize sprinkler systems
• Turn off outdoor spigots
• Detach & drain hoses
• Insulate pipes & faucets
• Turn down your water heater

Exterior

• Winterize and store lawn equipment, outdoor furniture, and grills
• Prepare ice melt, sand, snow, shovels, and car scrapers
• Inspect the roof for damage
• Clean out gutters

Other

• Test and replace batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
• Bring plants and delicate trees indoors
• Replace old fire extinguishers

Interested in Buying or Selling? Connect with your local real estate experts today!