Winter Home Maintenance Tips & Tricks
Home maintenance is important all year round, however, winter maintenance is especially necessary in order to prepare for the cold months. Keeping a winter home maintenance checklist may be the most efficient way to get the job done.
From indoor to outdoor tasks, you’ll want to make sure you’re covering all of your bases. In this blog, we’ve gathered all the tips and tricks you need to ensure your winter home maintenance goes smoothly without missing out on any key steps.
Pre-Winter Home Maintenance
There are different systems or parts of your home that you don’t use during the warmer months, so it’s important to make sure these things are working properly and ready for use when it gets colder.
Doing some cleaning, and making some necessary adjustments or repairs will go a long way when it comes to keeping your home in order throughout the whole winter season.
Make Sure Your Heating System is Clean
There are certain steps that need to be taken to ensure your heating system is prepared for the winter. The type of heating system you have will determine how often it should be cleaned.
High-efficiency heating systems require their PVC vent pipes to be cleared of any obstructions before temperatures start to drop. If you have a boiler system, you should make sure it is cleaned at least once every year. Gas systems only need to be cleaned every three years.
Check Your Chimney and Fireplace
Whether you use your fireplace regularly throughout the winter or not, you should always make sure the chimney is cleaned by a professional before the cold months come. Cleaning the bottom part of your fireplace can be done by yourself, but does require some research before beginning.
You should also check for any cracks in the chimney as well as any rubble. Debris such as leaves, bird nests, or creosote buildup can all act as fire hazards and should be looked out for.
Prevent Pipes from Freezing
As water freezes it expands, causing your pipes to sometimes burst. There are many ways you can prevent your pipes from bursting, however, one of the most common ways is to insulate any pipes near windows, doors, or any unheated areas.
Other steps you can take are disconnecting your garden hose from the outside faucet, as well as setting your heat to a temperature no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Taking these precautions will ensure you save time and money in the long run.
Pre-Winter Outdoor Maintenance
After you’ve taken care of your indoor tasks, it’s time for you to move to the outside. Preparing your home’s exterior for winter is all about taking precautions and protecting anything that could be damaged by snow, ice, or cold temperatures.
Protect Air Conditioning Units
There are many reasons you should take precautions to protect your air conditioning unit during winter. Falling ice, accumulating snow, and dripping water could all cause damage to your unit making it less efficient when it’s time to be used again.
Using a breathable material to cover your air conditioning unit will help keep any debris from entering. You may also want to put a piece of plywood on top of the unit to shield it from snow and ice.
Protect Patio Furniture
If you want your patio furniture to last longer, protecting it during winter is absolutely necessary. There are a variety of ways to protect your patio furniture depending on what material it’s made of.
It’s important to pay attention to the material and follow specific steps, such as cleaning each piece and purchasing the proper coverage. This will guarantee your furniture looks good as new when you uncover it.
Check the Roof
Ensuring that your roof is in good shape will allow you to have a stress-free winter. You can prevent any leaks from melting snow by checking for loose or missing shingles, as well as checking for any broken seals around your vents or chimney.
You should also take time to clean your gutters of any debris such as sticks, leaves, and pine cones. This will ensure melted snow will drain properly without buildup or flooding. You can also fix overflowing gutters by following a few simple steps.
Preparing Garden for Winter
Preparing your garden should also be one of your winter home maintenance tasks. After taking care of your landscape throughout the spring, summer, and fall, you should want to do everything you can to prepare it for the winter.
Your plants, garden, and lawn may not need the same type of attention during the winter but following the proper steps throughout the winter will ensure your plants are ready to bloom and flourish when it’s time.
Overwintering Plants
If you wish to keep your plants happy and healthy all year long, you may consider overwintering. By protecting your plants from the cold, you can ensure that they’ll be ready to grow when it gets warm again.
Learning how to overwinter your plants takes some time but is worth it in the long run. It also enables you to have a beautiful garden to admire inside your home during the cold months.
Winter Lawn Care
Though your lawn may not need as much attention in the winter as it does during the spring and summer, there are still steps you can take to ensure your lawn is in superb condition for the warmer seasons.
Before the first frost date, you should prepare your lawn for winter by aerating your lawn so that it has a chance to breathe before it’s covered in snow. Once you’ve aerated your lawn you can fertilize it, giving your grass the essential nutrients it needs to prepare for winter.
How to Fix Winter Damages In Your Yard
No matter how much thought and care you put into your winter home maintenance plans, there is always the chance that something can still go wrong.
Steps can be taken to mend winter damages if they do present themselves. The best way to approach these obstacles is to stay on top of your tasks, and keep an eye out throughout the winter, that way, when an issue arises you can fix it immediately.
Interested in more tips and tricks for home and garden care? Browse our home and garden center for more helpful advice.