Winter Is Here! – Make Sure Your Home Is Prepared!

2021-11-29
By: Advocate Brokerage

BRRRR! Winter is coming up quick and with the last couple of years we’ve experienced, it makes sense to do all you can to prepare you home against the elements! Below is a checklist of a few items you can do before winter hits to protect yourself from potential damage:

To Keep Visitors Safe Make Sure You…

Check walkways and entrances to your home to ensure they are well lit
Look for loose stones, bricks, or stairs to all the entrances to your home
Have plenty of ice melt, salt, or sand on hand
Locate your shovels
Test your snow blower
Contact the person or company that plows your driveway to ensure they are in business, and you have an understanding of snow day protocols

To Keep Your Home Warm All Season Long…

Check the weather stripping around your windows and doors
Double check your oil or propane levels and update your maintenance contract
Be sure your attic is well insulated and ventilated (this is also important in the prevention of ice dams)

To Prevent Fires…

Look at your fireplace and chimney to ensure there are no cracks or an excess buildup of soot
Place fire extinguishers on each floor of your home with special care to have one near your kitchen, and fireplace
Test your smoke detectors and change the batteries
Have your chimney inspected and cleaned

To Help Prevent Water Damage…

Prune any dead or damaged branches that could cause harm to your home or power lines
Be sure your gutters are clear of leaves and debris
Divert water from downspouts so that it flows away from your home
Turn off exterior faucets
Drain and store hoses
Make sure all the adults in the home know how to shut off the main water valve
If you have steam heat, flush your boilers
Test your sump pump
Look at your roof and call in a professional to repair any loose shingles, clear any accumulating debris and repair any breaks in the seals in the flashing
Install a whole house water leak detection system

Don’t Forget About Your Car…

Make sure you have emergency supplies stored in your car including: an ice scraper, emergency flairs, an extra blanket
Replace your wiper blades
Take care of your tires, make sure they are inflated to the proper pressure and consider putting on snow tires
Make sure all your fluids have been topped off (anti-freeze, wiper fluid and oil)

We want your Holiday season to be as worry free as possible. Putting in a little extra time to prepare your home for Winter can help. We do our best to educate each client we serve so we hope that you have found this little check list helpful.