Prepare Your Home for Winter with These 5 Quick Tips!

You’ve probably pulled out the winter gear this week, but have you winterized your home yet? As we enjoy the fall weather, it’s a great time to think about how you can protect your property by preparing for winter here in the Twin Cities.

Here are my favorite quick tips that many homeowners may not think about, but can make a huge difference this winter.

1. Clean your Vents and Radiator

You know that smell when you first switch on the heat for winter? It’s not just unpleasant, it’s a reminder that your vents could use a good cleaning.

Removing any dust and debris from your furnace, vent covers, and air intake covers increases the ease of airflow. This can lower your heating bill, extend the life of your heating unit, and help keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

It’s also a great time to change your air filters. As we turn the heat on and pull out winter clothes and decor from storage, this can stir up mold, dust, and other allergens. A new filter can reduce the sneezes, itchy eyes, and freshen up the air in your home.

Change your furnace filter while you’re at it, and have a technician check to make sure your furnace is running to its full capacity.

2. Protect Your Pipes to Prevent Problems

Pipes can freeze over winter, causing expensive damage. Spend a bit of time before it gets too cold to check your pipes to ensure they’re properly insulated. Water damage and plumbing issues lead to extensive repairs and years of uncovering hidden deterioration.

Remember to drain your sprinklers and turn off the water in your outdoor spigots.

3. Before You Fire Up the Fireplace, Check for Nests

There’s nothing better than a warm fire in winter. Be sure your fireplace is ready for those first warm-and-toasty memories this winter, by checking that your flue is operating correctly and your chimney is free of any nests.

If your chimney isn’t capped, it’s a great time to look into this (before they get fully booked for the winter).

4. Trim Those Trees Before Snowfall

Winter storms and ice can do serious and costly damage to your home. As snow and ice weigh down tree branches, limbs become more likely to fall and break. This risk is multiplied when we experience one of our winter storms. If you use a tree trimmer, ask them to come out and assess your trees and remove any damaged limbs.

5. Clear Your Gutters

Clearing your gutters can also save you money and headaches. If you noticed icicles last year, be sure to remove any debris from your gutters now. While icicles can give your home that picturesque feeling, they can also lead to ice dams. Ice dams can trap ice and water in your gutters that can spread to your roof, walls, and ceiling. This can lead to structural damage to the roof, gutters, and shingles.

Clear your gutters soon, to avoid roof leaks in the spring.

Have a wonderful winter in our slice of wonderland.

Winter stirs up a wide range of emotions, from challenging conditions to picturesque quiet snowfalls. Here’s to more of the latter this year! I also love to assist homeowners with listing their homes during this unique time of year. If you have any questions about buying or selling your home during the winter, please give me a call. I am happy to discuss how we can make this winter the perfect season for home sales.

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