The fall is here and winter isn’t far behind. Cool evenings, shorter daylight hours, and the delightful scent of a fireplace are all clues that winter is upon us. Your home needs to be ready to handle the cold weather. Here are five things you should do to ensure your home makes it through the winter months with no problems.
Inspect the Roof
The best way to prevent leaks and other damage throughout the cold, snowy winter months is to give your roof a visual inspection ahead of time. Our fall in Northern Westchester was pretty mild, but we did have a couple of major storms. Check for damage to any shingles and take a quick peek inside your gutters to see if there are signs of shingle granules as these can indicate excessive wear to your roof.
Clean the Gutters
Clogged gutters, often a result of leaves and small twigs from trees, can cause a variety of problems for your home.
Hire someone or throw some gloves on and clean out the gutters of your home. You’ll help prevent water damage to your home during the fall and reduce the likelihood of a dangerous and potentially costly ice dam forming on your roof during the winter. If you have a lot of trees around your home, you may want to have your downspouts cleaned out as well.
Winterize Your Sprinkler System
You’ll need to have all the water blown out of your in-ground sprinkler system (if you have one) before the temperature drops too low. Failure to do so could cause your system’s pipes to freeze, burst and leak, which could end up costing you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
Check Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
As the temperature drops, you’ll likely end up using your furnace or fireplace a lot more. Keep your home and, most importantly, your family safe by checking the battery levels for your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the home. Even if your home is without a fireplace, there’s no better time than now to test these potentially life-saving devices.
Prepare Your Lawn
Depending on the type of grass you have, fall might be the ideal time to fertilize. And it’s definitely the right time to rake or mulch all the leaves covering your lawn. Believe it or not, the greenest spring lawns are actually made in the fall.
If the fall has you thinking about the real estate market in Northern Westchester, please reach out to me today. Whether you’re looking to move to the area or want to know the value of your home, I have the knowledge and experience to give you the answers you are looking for. To search my listings or other homes or sale visit, HarrietLibov.HoulihanLawrence.com