Don’t give your home maintenance the cold shoulder!
Between the snowfall outside and the holiday hustle and bustle inside, keeping your home looking and functioning great as you transition into winter months is key! Before you reach for your wreaths or start decorating the mantel, follow these steps to harden your home against harsh winter conditions.
10 Tips To Winterize Your Home
1. Keep Heating System Running Smoothly
If you heat with a fireplace or wood stove, schedule a chimney cleaning and stock up on wood/fuel.
If you heat with oil, have your furnace or boiler cleaned every year.
If you heat with gas, have your furnace serviced annually before winter.
If you live in a home with radiator heating, free up the space around your radiator.
Make sure to change the air filters in your furnace regularly based on your system’s manufacturer’s recommendations.
By the way, nothing transforms your “just a house” to a “cozy home” like a fireplace upgrade. Give Maverick a call at 303-978-0602 if you are ready to schedule one this season!
2. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
3. Remove and store any window-mounted AC units
4. Prevent Frozen Pipes
Insulate pipes by windows and doors and in unheated areas of the home.
Drain outside faucets & winterize the sprinkler system.
Disconnect your hose from the outside hose bib (outside faucet).
If prone to freezing, leave faucets dripping slightly — the theory is that running water does not freeze.
Keep the heat set no lower than 55ºF if you are away.
5. Clean kitchen disposal by grinding several cups of ice cubes
6. Clean faucet aerators and shower heads
7. Clean & Cover Vents
Vacuum vent covers
Place a screen over intake vents to prevent critters from discovering a warm place to call home.
8. Reseal grout on counters, walls, and floors to prevent staining
9. Test Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt (GFCI) receptacles and GFCI circuit breakers
10. Check the Gutters
Remove all debris, branches and pine needles.
Ensure downspouts are free of obstruction.
Winterizing your home can be a lot of work, but it will protect you from a variety of issues. The last thing you want on a cold wintry night is frozen pipes that burst or a leaky roof.
Maverick is here to help guide you with hiring the pros to help you maintain your home this winter.
If you haven’t already, take a peek at our Fall Checklist for home maintenance tasks to do before it gets even colder! For our year-round recommendations, download our home maintenance checklist below.
Maverick Home Remodeling, Inc has been a member of NARI since 2006. Several benefits associated with membership include Community, Education, Certification, Access, and more. Kelly Berlin, Vice President of Maverick Home Remodeling, Inc., served as a board member of NARI’s Rocky Mountain Chapter for three years to help promote the remodeling industry and encourage others to commit to integrity, transparency, and education.
