20 Tips to Prepare for Winter

With Winter literally right around the corner, and snow falling all around us, it's long past time to get our homes ready for the coldest seasons of the year. 

​To reduce drafts or leaks...
1. Check and replace weather stripping on windows and doors
2. Check and replace caulking around windows
3. Check and fix causes of leaks, cracks, or gaps in windows
​4. Remove any air conditioners
5. Check and replace missing shingles on your roof

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To ensure safety...
6. Check and replace any rotted/decayed wood on the house, porch, deck, etc.
7. Trim any branches away from buildings or electrical wires
8. Ensure any water drains away from the buildings
9. Ensure any gutters are clean and securely attached to the building
10. Remove outdoor hoses, shut off and drain outdoor taps
11. Ensure handrails are secure
12. Get sand, salt, or ice melt ready and accessible

To ensure proper maintenance...
13. Get heat tape for pipes prone to freezing
14. Make easy access to snow blowers, shovels, or plows
15. Perform an oil change and change spark plugs in your snow blower before using it
16. Replace the air filter in your furnace
17. Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Other things to consider...
18. Ensure outdoor lighting is working
19. Secure or put into storage any outdoor furniture.
20. Reverse overhead fans to push heat downward

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