The task of winterizing your home is something that’s a common issue for many in the U.S., especially in the Northeast. Whether you’re in charge of protecting pipes, sealing cracks in a door or window, or checking the heating system, it’s certainly a lot to juggle at once.
Homeowners in the
Greater Boston area are certainly well acquainted with the challenges of this annual duty. But luckily enough, learning how to winterize a home isn’t such a challenge. Below is a detailed step-by-step guide to preparing your house for the colder months of the year that’s easy to follow and even easier to check off your to-do list. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Clear the gutters
Cleaning your gutters may seem to be a job reserved for the fall time, but it’s even more important to continue checking them throughout the early winter. Deciduous trees (which pop with color every spring in almost every corner of the Greater Boston area, to our delight) can litter gutters on every side of the home with fresh organic material throughout the year. If you neglect to clear your gutters before the first heavy icing, these leaves can cause ice dams and blockages that weigh down the roof and cool the attic. Install gutter guards and ensure that your attic remains about 10 degrees warmer than the outdoor temperature all winter long.
Step 2: Seal cracks of all sizes
Another necessary step to wintering your house is to plug up any cracks, openings, or holes that might have appeared over the rest of the year. These cracks commonly show up around the doors and windows that get the most use, as well as the areas of the house where the outdoor air can enter the interior, like your air conditioner and mail slot.
Use caulk to plug up the smaller holes and cracks, and consider hiring a professional if you notice larger openings that may require expert care to close up. These pros know how to winterize a home better than even the most experienced homeowners, so it’s always a good idea to check with them if you have a question about sealing cracks.
Step 3: Ensure your pipes are in good condition
Protecting your plumbing is an absolutely essential task to complete before the coldest days of winter start to approach. Frozen pipes can cause a disaster if they end up bursting due to extreme temperatures, neglect, or simple failure. Locate the pipes in the house that have the highest risk of freezing, such as those that get irregular use or those that haven’t been monitored for their condition in a while.
Insulate these pipes and keep a faucet or two running very slightly if you think there is still a risk of freezing. Open the cabinets below your kitchen and bathroom sink to keep a consistent channel of warm air on the exposed plumbing. Lastly, make sure everyone in the family knows where the water shut-off valve is located in case there is a water pressure issue.
Step 4: Prepare for icy surfaces
Surprise slips and falls are some of the most distressing winter misfortunes we encounter. Ensure that slips and falls are a rarity at your house by keeping all your sidewalks, paths, and driveways clear of snow, ice, and sleet. Install a heavy-duty handrail along any areas outside your home that have a slight incline, especially if you expect to have guests who are unstable on their feet.
Purchase at least two weeks’ worth of treated salt to cover all your walkable surfaces anytime a winter storm event is in the forecast. Invest in a quality snow shovel or automatic snow blower if your home is in a part of the country that has snow cover for most of the winter.
Step 5: Check your smoke detectors
You may not know that fires in private residences occur more often in the winter than in any other season of the year. With more people stuck at home during the winter, it’s no wonder that accidental fires are common in the colder months. Do your due diligence by testing your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors at the outset of the winter. Check them monthly at the very least and replace the batteries at any sign of age or wear.
Step 6: Bring the hose inside
Another tip to winterize your home that many people forget to check off their list is to remove any garden hoses or instruments outside that use water. Hoses can trap frozen water in them at the slightest drop in temperature, which could end up freezing a good proportion of your internal plumbing. Bring the hoses inside, turn off the water valves, and even insulate the faucet or tap if you think cold temperatures could penetrate.
Step 7: Clean your front and back yard
Winterizing your home isn’t only about preparing the interior of the property for cold weather. Your landscaping also needs a little attention before the single-digit temperatures start to settle in. Try to prevent any errant tree limbs from falling on house guests by trimming them back at least a foot as soon as they’ve shed their leaves and become dormant. Evergreen trees are generally more resilient to low temperatures but observe the branches anyway for signs of rot or weakness.
Snow and ice can build up on trees of all sizes and pose a risk for people walking below them, so this step is essential to complete. Lastly, do a cursory sweep of leaves and brush that might have settled on the lawn. By doing so, you’ll make the grass stronger and healthier for when spring rolls around again.
Reach out to a local real estate agent
If you want to know more about how to winterize a home, or you’d like to learn more about buying and selling luxury real estate in Greater Boston, get in touch today! Contact
Elizabeth Bain for more information. Elizabeth is a local agent who can help with any step of the real estate process and is always happy to help educate her clients on how they can make sure their home investment is protected during all times of the year.
