It’s hard to believe that the long and balmy days of summer are already over for another year, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
To make sure your home and family are ready for another season of cold and snow, here’s a simple winter checklist to get you in the mood for cozy nights by the fire that is just around the corner.
Are Your Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors Working?
The only way to know for sure that your home safety devices are in good working order is to test them monthly. It’s simple: just press the button and wait for the beep! And to make sure the devices continue protecting you and your family, change the batteries once a year (do it now if you don’t remember the last time you swapped them out).
Is There Adequate Airflow in and out of the House?
Ventilation is extremely important at this time of year, and one of the reasons for that is mold. With the house shut up so tightly and people spending so much time inside, moisture can build up in the air if your ventilation system isn’t working properly, and this can lead to mold growth.
Along with making sure all your vents and ducts are in good working order and not leaking, you should also stay on top of removing snow and ice from exterior intake and exhaust fans to keep them clear.
Do You Have Enough Salt for a Few Snowfalls?
How do you keep your walkway, driveway, and sidewalks clear of ice and snow in winter? Easy: with a shovel and de-icing salt. But these things won’t do you much good if the first snowfall hits and you haven’t yet stocked up, so get out there to your local Katy, TX hardware store and buy a bag of ice and a shovel to prepare for the coming storms.
Will Your Home Be Warm Enough?
Insulation keeps warm air inside, cold air outside, and stops you from having to spend the winter months bundled up in a parka inside your house. And if you want to make your house even more efficient and warmer, then install weather stripping around windows, doors, mail chutes, air conditioner vents, and other access points.
You can also reduce drafts by covering older windows with heavy-duty plastic, and improve the overall insulation in your house by updating the insulation on your exterior walls, in the attic, and in the basement or crawl space.
Is Your Furnace Ready for the Heating Season?
It’s a good idea to have your HVAC system and ventilation system inspected annually to check for problems and leaks and to make sure your furnace will work when you need it most. Along with having a professional in for maintenance, you should also make sure to clean or replace the furnace filter every one to three months to keep it running cleanly and efficiently.
This easy checklist of winter chores will keep your family warm this winter, make sure you’ve got plenty of fresh air circulating through the house, save you money on energy bills, prevent frozen pipes, and keep people safe on the walkways outside. And once you get these tasks out of the way, you can start thinking about the holidays, ski trips, and cozy nights to come.
