Here are 12 easy ways to gear your home up for the winter ahead.
Unfortunately, winter is upon us here in Alaska. We’re already seeing snow on the mountains, and the mornings are getting quite chilly. If you’re a homeowner, it’s time to winterize your property before it gets too late. Here’s a handy list of things we should all be doing to prepare our homes for the long winter ahead:
1. Clean out your gutters. Make sure any leaves are removed, so your gutters don’t get clogged in the spring when the snow starts to melt.
2. Make sure your downspouts are taking water away from the house. If you don’t, your foundation and basement will be at risk of flooding come spring.
3. Get your heating system cleaned. This will almost double the life of your furnace if you do it annually.
4. Check your CO and smoke detectors. Replace batteries if you need to.
5. Clean your chimney and fireplace.
6. Remove your hoses from the side of your house. Cover any hose knobs.
“We all need to prepare our homes for the long winter before it’s too late.”
7. Check your sump pump. If you have one in your crawlspace, make sure it’s working properly or you’ll end up with water everywhere in a few months.
8. Caulk your windows and doors.
9. Insulate your external plug-ins. You can get some foam insulation to put in there.
10. Cover exposed pipes. If it gets really cold, these pipes on exterior walls tend to freeze.
11. Consider a programmable thermostat.
12. Dig out your snow shovels. You’ll need them soon.
If you have questions about our checklist or anything else related to real estate, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
