Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Home Maintenance

Our ultimate checklist for winterizing your home before cold weather hits

Veronica Sparks
By

When the weather cools down in the fall, you probably start dreaming of pumpkin desserts, warm blankets, and holiday parties. Before you jump into relaxation mode, though, it’s important to prepare your home for the cold months ahead. Being proactive is key when it comes to winterizing your home, so it’s time to create a checklist of all the areas of your home that need seasonal maintenance, both inside and out. Here is our ultimate checklist for winterizing your home, so you can enjoy everything winter has to offer with some peace of mind.

modern gray brick home in winter
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Winterizing the inside of your home

The two most common concerns for homeowners in the winter are high heating bills and the threat of burst pipes. Address these two concerns by taking a proactive approach and preparing the inside of your home for the cold weather ahead.

Recommended Videos

Switch over from air conditioning to heat

Before you make the switchover, clean your outdoor air conditioning unit by using a hose to remove debris. Let it dry completely before covering it for the winter. If you have air conditioning window units, remove and store them or cover them to block the cold air that tends to seep in.

Related

Inspect your furnace and ensure the air and exhaust vents are clear, then replace the furnace’s air filter. Before the temperatures get too chilly, do a test run on your heating system. This way, you can handle any necessary maintenance so you can have efficient heating all season long.

Winterize your windows and doors

Drafty windows lead to elevated heating bills, so examine your window locks and clean all the tracks to clear out grime and debris that can impact the window’s seal. Perform a draft check on all windows and exterior doors on a cool, windy day, and caulk any gaps or cracks in moldings, both inside and outside your doors and windows. Make sure the door sweeps are in good working condition and replace them if needed.

Check your attic for drafts

During a chilly, windy fall day, search for drafty spots in your attic and install insulation if needed. Since heat rises, it may escape through your poorly insulated attic, driving up your heating.

Prepare exposed pipes and faucets

Water expands when it freezes, so avoid burst pipes and flooding damage by insulating pipes in areas that aren’t temperature-controlled. This includes your attic, crawlspace, garage, and outdoor faucets.

outdoor string of light bulbs with icicles
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Winterizing the outside of your home

While you’ll be hunkered down indoors for the coming months, preparing the outside of your home for winter is equally important as addressing the inside of your home. Performing some outdoor inspections and tasks could save you lots of cash down the road, preventing the need for costly repairs.

Clean and store outdoor furniture and tools

  • Lawnmower. Drain any remaining gasoline, remove any debris and lawn waste from blades and other compartments, then store the machine in a dry place to prevent rust and corrosion.
  • Gardening tools. Clean and dry them thoroughly, then store them away.
  • Patio furniture. Wash and dry all the pieces before covering them or storing them indoors.
  • Grill. Clean off any food particles to avoid attracting pests. Cover or store it indoors for the winter.

Prepare your pool for winter

To prepare the pool, remove all accessories like ladders, chemical meters, and dispensers. Check the water’s chemical levels, clean and storing pool pumps, and dispose of old filters. Depending on your region, preparing the pool for colder months may vary, so follow the manufacturer’s recommendations to determine whether you need to drain it completely or just cover it.

Shut off outdoor water sources

Since water expands when it’s frozen, any remaining water in your sprinkler system or garden hose can cause damage that you’ll have to repair in the spring. Shut off your garden hose and sprinkler system once your yardwork has come to an end, and drain them of water before the freezing temperatures arrive.

Examine your roof

Check for damaged or missing shingles on your roof and have them repaired or replaced, then clean out your gutters and downspouts. Make sure your roof’s flashing is in good condition to reduce the chance of leaks or flooding in your home.

Consider re-staining your deck

Winter months expose your wooden deck to a lot of moisture which expands wood, creates cracks in the deck boards, and can cause mold and wood rot. To best protect your deck from the harsh elements, re-stain the boards every two or three years.

With all the upcoming fall and winter festivities, make sure your home is in tip-top shape, whether you’re hosting the family gatherings or just cuddling up next to the fireplace with a good book. Winterizing your home isn’t a very glamorous project, but it can save you money on future repairs, keep you more comfortable during cold weather, and give you some much-needed peace of mind.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Veronica Sparks
Veronica Sparks
Contributor
Veronica Sparks is a writer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who loves writing about gardening, home décor, and DIY life. She’s…
What colors go with gray? How to make a neutral hue pop in your home
Make gray walls work for your home decor with complementary colors
Modern living room with gray walls and yellow furniture

Neutral colors like gray and taupe are always popular options for your home's interior design. Both are versatile shades that can go with a plethora of other hues, which means you can easily change up the look of your decor with gray walls and a rotating rainbow of accessories like colorful throw pillows. With all the different shades of gray paint available, from matte to glossy, warm to cool, and brownish to blueish, it's certainly possible to find the one that's perfect for you and your home.

Of course, you can always have too much of a good thing. While gray can be a sophisticated and elegant shade, too much gray can wash out a room or make it feel dull and dingy or cold and unwelcoming. Think of gray as the neutral backdrop on a canvas that lets your color palette shine, and you can't go wrong. So, it’s important to incorporate other colors into the decor, whether it be with pieces of furniture, art, or throw blankets -- but what colors go with gray? If you're looking for the best options to brighten up your current decor, keep reading to find out how to accent this elegant tone.

Read more
How to level a yard (and 3 reasons why you really should)
Reasons to level your yard and how to do it
Home with manicured lawn

Homeowners spend countless hours manicuring, improving, and decorating their lawns to make them pristine and gorgeous, but many fall short when it comes to knowing how to level a yard.

The home's lawn is crucial to maintaining the overall aesthetic of the property. Fertilizing, replacing sod, and regularly watering your lawn all go a long way in making it lush and vibrant. However, all that work on an uneven or bumpy lawn can still result in a yard that appears imperfect and unkept.

Read more
11 bad ideas for your front yard that will kill your curb appeal
Avoid these mistakes for your front yard
A front yard with xeriscape landscaping

You may be thinking about all the projects you want to tackle outdoors thanks to the warmer weather. While you may have grand plans to improve your curb appeal, taking the time and patience to properly land on a front yard design is important. If you want to ensure you're staying on trend and not dating your home, there are some common mistakes to avoid. These will help with the resale value of your home and leave you the envy of all your neighbors.
Landscaping mistakes
These are some common mistakes you'll want to avoid when thinking about landscaping your front yard.
Not having a game plan
One of the biggest mistakes is not having a plan when it comes to the design and layout of your landscaping. This can leave your yard feeling disjointed and your plants at risk of looking overgrown and out of place. Meet with a local garden expert or map out your front yard, including where all plants, trees, rocks, water features, and flowers will live. This will help ensure things don't look too busy or sparse, and it will make your yard feel well thought out.
Using the wrong plants
Understand which plants work for your exact yard. If they need full sun or partial shade, or require a lot of maintenance, it may be a disaster waiting to happen. Not only do you need to consider placement in terms of sunlight, but different flowers and plants have varying schedules of watering, so you want to know exactly what's expected before you plant them.
Too many decorations
Everyone loves a yard that changes with the season in terms of decor, but you can overdo it. You want to avoid garden decor that makes your front yard look tacky or cheap (we're talking to you, plastic deer), so keep decorations to a minimum.

Color pitfalls
We love color, but you need to be careful how and where you use it.
Choosing all one color
We love a monochromatic look as much as the next person, but your home should be welcoming and warm from the first glance. If you prefer having your house the same color as outdoor furniture and plants/flowers, use it as a backdrop. Add one or two pops of color with chair pillows or your front door to breathe a little life into your home.
Choosing too many colors
While it's good to have a little variety, you don't want to overwhelm the outside of your home. Bright colors may work in some parts of the country, but go easy on the rest of your choices. Picking one primary color and one contrasting color that complements it is the safest approach, especially if you're planning to sell your home.

Read more