Preparing Your Home for Winter: A List for the Do-It-Yourselfer

Winter is fast approaching and you find that you are not prepared yet. What do you need to do to ready your home for the winter months?

Heat is essential for the winter months. Now is a good time to call a service provider and have your system thoroughly inspected. A small particle of dust can cause a heating system to stop working. Don't wait until the heat goes out in the middle of a cold night to find out just how cold your home can get with no heat.

Clear any brush away from your home that may have accumulated over the summer. Brush piled beside the home provides an opportunity for water damage as well as a good home for rodents.

Have your roof inspected. Make sure you have no loose shingles or leaks in your roof. If you live in an area where snow accumulates on the rooftops, loose shingles can cause a problem when trying to clear snow. Melting snow also worsen any leaks you may have in your roof.

If you have a chimney, have it inspected. Chimney fires are common and can result in great loss.

How well does your home hold heat? Do you find that you are spending a great deal for fuel and not getting much heat? Perhaps you need to increase the insulation in your home. Now is a good time to venture into the attic and see what is there.

Windows are another cause of heat loss. Check all of your windows for drafts. If the air can come in, the heat can get out. Replace your windows or cover with winter insulation materials to conserve on your heating expenses.

While you are checking your windows, you should also check your doors for drafts. This is a very common spot for heat loss and can be remedied with tightening up the frame or filling loose areas with caulking material.

Change the batteries in your smoke detectors. If you do not have detectors that also detect carbon monoxide, this is a good time to upgrade. The winter months are the most dangerous for obvious reasons. With home sealed up tight and the heaters running full blast it is a good idea to monitor the carbon monoxide levels in your home at all time. Carbon monoxide poisoning is deadly.

Replace or recharge your fire extinguishers. With heaters running and soon to be Christmas lights, it is never a bad idea to have an operational fire extinguisher handy. You should have one in your kitchen as well as one in or near your bedroom.