How to Winterize Your Home: Outdoor Maintenance

By Susan M. Keenan www.doityourself.com

Winterizing your home to survive harsh conditions is easy, not to mention inexpensive. In fact, if you follow the strategies included here, you may save some money in the long run. Remember that a moment to repair may save you an hour to replace.

Outdoor Maintenance Tips

You should always dress properly before beginning any outdoor maintenance. If you will be doing any climbing, be sure that your shoes aren't slippery and that the laces aren't hanging all over the place. Good tread on the bottom of your shoes will make a lot of difference when you are climbing on the roof.

Gather your tools together, including trash bags before you actually begin. Invest in a pair of sturdy work gloves to prevent damage to your hands from sharp objects or splinters.

Whenever you perform outside maintenance on your home, it is always a good idea to let someone know what you are doing. Outdoor accidents, while not common, can be serious. Who knows when the neighbor's dog will decide to chase the neighborhood squirrel and knock down your ladder with you on it?

Outdoor Faucets and Hoses

• To prevent problems that arise from freezing water, turn off the inside valve to each outdoor faucet.
• Once the valves have been shut off, go outside and turn the faucet handle slightly to release any remaining water from the pipes.

Gutters and Roof

• Remove the debris that has gathered on the top of your roof. Use a soft bristled broom to prevent damage to your shingles. Gently sweep all of the debris into small piles in several areas of the roof. Bag the debris for proper disposal.
• Next, clean the gutters by removing any debris. Leaves, roofing grit, feathers, and even trash have a way of finding the gutters for their final resting place. Removing them now could prevent blockage and water damage. First, remove any large pieces by hand. Dispose of these properly. Use a small hand tool, such as a trowel, spade, or dust brush to remove smaller pieces.
• Clean out the downspouts next. Typically, these are found where the gutters meet the corners of your home. Use a pair of tongs to remove any debris within easy reach. Use a flashlight to look down through the gutter to check for further debris. If a buildup exists, you may have to invest in a metal snake to clean it out. Investing in this project can prevent a buildup of water on the roof that seeks a different path of exit, such as your ceiling.
• Repair any fittings now. Minor damage generally involves a simple retightening of the fittings to secure the downspouts and gutters to your home.
• Major damage to the fittings will require replacing them. Measure them for size before going to the hardware store.
• Repair minor damage to the downspouts and gutters. Use a bit of silicone caulk and small pieces of aluminum to repair any small holes or tears. Small holes only enlarge over time and can lead to extensive water damage later.
• Flush the roof with water to completely remove any small pieces of grit or debris.
• Consider covering your gutters with a hardware cloth to prevent any future buildup of debris.

Doorways and Windows

• Check windows and doors to get an idea of the extent of necessary repairs.
• Check for caulk that is beginning to pull away from the surface. Remove the old caulk completely and dispose of it properly.
• Clean the surface area exposed by the removal of the old caulk.
• Allow the area to dry completely. Re-caulk the area.

Wooden Decks: Pool and Other

• Gather large pieces of trash and dispose of properly. Sweep all debris from the deck area and dispose of properly.
• Clean all outdoor furniture. Cover furniture to protect it form the harsh winter weather.
• Clean and put away all pool toys, floats, and accessories including skimmers, thermometers, footbaths, etc.
• Remove and replace any loose deck screws or nails with new ones. Dispose of old ones properly.

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Inside Your Home

Preparing for the winter months inside the home is just as important as outside the home. A few minutes spent repairing something can save endless hours and dollars replacing something. Take the time to so a room by room search and discover what is in need of a bit of fixing up.

Heating Systems

• If you have a furnace, change the filter in the beginning of the fall season. Don't worry about how dirty it is or isn't, simply replace it with a new one.
• Clean each of the registers in the house. This will help to promote efficiency for your heating system.
• Now is the time to open up the area in front of the registers by moving the furniture, curtains, and loose carpeting away from them. This will allow the heated air to circulate more freely. It will also lessen the risk of fire hazards.
• Have your chimney and its flue inspected by a professional chimney cleaner. Have him remove any accumulated creosote.
• 
  Insulation: Walls, Ceilings, and Pipes
• Invest some time in researching the R-value of your current insulation. Research what value you should have in your home. Replace the insulation in any areas that have the wrong value. Be sure that you check floors, walls, and ceilings.
• If you do not have one already, purchase and install a hot water heater insulating blanket to conserve heat. This will also help to prevent water damage should you lose power for an extended time. Water heater blankets come with a simple set of directions.
• Purchase special pipe insulating material. Insulate all exposed pipes in your basement and garage areas. If necessary, you might want to consider relocating the pipes to a heated area of your home. At the very least, use some heat tape to cover the pipes.

Electrical: Lighting and Fans

• Check for loose wiring on any lamps, lighting fixtures, and fans. Replace any that need it.
• Clean all of your electrical fixtures completely.
• Turn off the power supply to all ceiling fans. Oil the motor. Turn the power back on when you are finished.
• Switch the direction of the ceiling fan's blades. This will maximize the benefit of circulating the heated air in the room.

Air Leaks

• To retain the maximum amount of heat in your home, replace lighter weight curtains with heavy drapes.
• Caulk or add insulation plates to the electrical outlets to minimize heat loss due to air leaks.
• Caulk or add insulation to pipe fittings that have air leaks.
• Consider applying temporary weather stripping on your windows to prevent heat loss. At least consider this option for rooms that get little use.

Safety Precautions

• Replace any outdoor bulbs that aren't working. Be sure to check all of your outdoor lighting fixtures, including motion detectors.
• Replace the batteries in existing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Purchase smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for any floor levels that do not have one and install them.
• Check all of the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are in working order.
• Trim shrubbery, bushes, and trees away from windows and doorways.
• Hire a professional to trim shrubbery, bushes, and trees away from electrical wiring.
• Consider investing in a few solar lighting fixtures in strategic places.

Tips and Pointers to Remember

Remember that you must take care of your home to provide the optimum level of security and comfort. A few dollars now can mean a large savings. Remember that you do not have to complete the winterizing of your home all in one day either. Use the first day to size up your projects and create a list for necessary purchases. Then, you can use another day to begin your work.


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