Winterize Your Home

The dawn of a new season, the start of a new to-do list. Let us help you keep the winter blues at bay by making this year’s frosty transition easy-freezey.
 

HEATING

Let’s start with winter’s hottest commodity: your heating system. Start by doing a test run, just to make sure everything is running properly. The last thing you want is a faulty system once the mercury starts to drop.
 
Your air filter should be replaced twice-a-year, and there’s no better time than now. Regular seasonal maintenance like this will keep your heating system working longer, saving you from costly repairs and chilly nights.
 
Remember to clear your heating vents, as well. Any outside obstacles should be moved out of the way, and it’s worth calling a service technician to clean the inside, too.
 

COOLING

Moving on to the polar (heh) opposite: your air conditioning.
 
For cooling systems with outdoor condensing units, there are two important to-dos to do.
 
1. Clean

Cleaning will remove debris and dirt that collected over the summer months. Pretty straightforward.

2. Shut off the power source
 
Leaving the power source on throughout the winter creates a small amount of heat that will attract small creatures like rodents, and rodents don’t care about repair bills. Turning off the power source will prevent this from happening.
 
For window air conditioners, remove and store someplace safe.

 
WATER

 A burst pipe is no joke. Let’s make sure you don’t have to deal with a flooded house in the middle of January. Properly insulating exposed piping is the best way to combat frozen pipes. And don’t forget about exterior faucets. Water running to the outside should be shut off and drained.
 
If you’re leaving a property for an extended period of time, for instance shutting down a lake house or heading to sunnier shores for winter (we don’t blame you), make sure the water supply is shut off and the plumbing system is totally drained.
 

OUTDOORS

A great looking lawn and garden in the summer is a year-round job. Weeding, mulching, proper watering, and pruning in fall are all important to how your backyard is going to look next year.
 
Besides taking care of the greenery, make sure any outdoor furniture and decorations are properly cleaned and stored for the winter. And crochet your garden gnomes tiny scarves.
 
For more information on fall maintenance, read our Fall Maintenance Musts, and check out all of our RediHomes® beautiful homes perfect for any season.