A Homeowners Year-Round Guide: Before the Freeze
As a homeowner, do you know how to prepare your home for the up-coming seasonal changes? Follow this list on what to do for this upcoming year before the first freeze. Watch to find out!
Video transcript
What to do and when. A Homeowner's Year-round Guide
Before the Freeze - Maintaining your home to keep it running efficiently and minimize future repair costs has a seasonality to it. To make it easier to stay on track and prepare your home for seasonal changes, follow this list of what to do throughout the coming year and when. Here are some quick tips about things to do before the first freeze. For the interior of the home, have your furnace and fireplace professionally cleaned and inspected. Put fresh batteries in all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Reverse ceiling fan blades to improve heating efficiency and cooler weather. Vacuum refrigerator coils.
For the exterior, clear your gutters and downspouts of leaves. Check for missing loose or damaged roof shingles. Spray your home's perimeter to discourage pests from entering. Repair chips and cracks in your driveway and walkways. Drain and store garden hoses unwinterized outdoors. Repair or replace weathered or damaged exterior doors, locks, and handles. Inspect weather stripping and insulation and replace if needed. And that's it. Work through your checking list and be ready before the first freeze.