The calendar has tipped over to November. Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend. Autumn is well and fully here. That means cooler temperatures, shorter days, and longer nights. And more time spent indoors.
Now is the time to prepare your home for the long winter ahead of us. Outdoor tasks should be wrapping up, so it’s time to focus on your indoor world. What should you do now to prepare your home for winter?
Winter Preparation for your Home
A wood-burning stove can save you on energy bills
- Put out area rugs to warm up chilly floors
- Add throw blankets to the living room and family room to keep you toasty warm on cool winter days
- Turn ceiling fans to clockwise to draw warm air up and disperse it out throughout your room
- Have your chimney cleaned and inspected in anticipation of roaring fires
- Order in a load of firewood to feed the fire
- Get the furnace cleaned and inspected while you are at it, to make sure it doesn’t leave you in the lurch this winter
- Replace furnace filters once a month, as necessary
- Replace batteries in smoke detectors and ensure carbon monoxide detectors are in working order
Windows help to keep cold air out, but only if they are intact
- Check the seals around windows and doors, and caulk/weatherstrip as necessary to keep out drafts
- If you have leaky or broken panes, consider replacing windows to keep the heat in this winter
- Consider updating to a programmable thermostat to save energy and money
- Inspect and clean bathroom and stove exhaust fans to ensure they are in working order
- Clean your oven in anticipation of more active use. Don’t forget the stove while you’re at it.
- Don’t forget the fridge too! Vacuum back coils to remove dust and debris to keep it chilling. Peek inside to toss any expired food and clean shelves and crispers at the same time.
- For those with dishwashers, now is a great time to clean and sanitize your dishwasher as well. It requires regular inspections to make sure it keeps working hard for you.
- Unless you are a diehard laundry line fan, you will be using your dryer more regularly too. Clean the lint trap. Remove the back vent to thoroughly clean it as well. A dirty dryer vent leaves you at risk for fire.
As you tick off all your winter preparation jobs for your home, know that these tasks will stand you in good stead to be warm and cozy in the cold months ahead. If these winter preparations for your home leave you with a pile of unwanted junk to get rid of, contact Load of Rubbish. We will gladly help you finish the job of winter preparation for your home.
