Sure, the outdoor landscape is taking a turn for the impending colder weather, leaves are dropping or fully dropped in some parts of the country, the grass is starting to brown out, once colorful flowers are weeping masses of brown, and this means it’s time to prepare your home for a hard winter’s nap.
Here’s a list of 10 Do It Yourself Home Winterization Projects that will save you from expensive winter mishaps and leave you with a beautiful spring awakening.
Your Lawn
There are four simple steps to a perfect spring turf.
- Make a final couple mows before the first hard frost, lowering the blade each time. The final height should be 2 to 2 ½ inches.
- Use a broadcast spreader to apply a high quality winterizer/fertilizer.
- Aerate the lawn using a core aerator found at a local hardware store. Or hire a service which will cost around $175 depending on your lawn size.
- After aeration, overseed your lawn with a broadcast spreader, only if you’re still having warm periods.
Winterize Your Exterior Faucets
To avoid expensive water damage you must take these steps.
- Walk the perimeter of the house to find all of your exterior faucets and remove and drain any attached hoses.
- Inside your home, turn off each individual shutoff valve for each exterior faucet.
- Drain any water left in the exterior faucet.
Install A Draft Guard
For as little as $10-$15, you can install a draft guard under each exterior door to help keep heat in.
Check All Fire Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges homeowners to get in the habit of replacing smoke and carbon monoxide alarm batteries when the time changes. If you missed that November date, this should be done immediately.
Protecting Backyard Pools and Ponds
According to the CDC, from 2005-2014, there were an average of 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings (non-boating related) annually in the United States, or about 10 deaths per day. It’s important if you have a pool or a pond to properly cover the area. For your pool, invest in a high quality pool cover. Remember, children can drown in inches of water, so ponds pose the same risk as pools do and should be covered.
Replace Your Furnace Filters
A dirty furnace filter requires your system to work harder, not to mention the allergens that are being released into the air, so check and replace your filter regularly. This will also help you save money.
Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
By reversing the blades on your ceiling fans you’re moving hot air, which can save you up to 10% on your heating bills.
Window Insulation Kits
If you have older windows that are prone to leaks, installing a $20-40 kit will prevent 70% of your room’s heat from leaking out.
Clean Gutters and Downspouts
If debris is left in your downspouts this will lead to ice damming, which can pull down the gutters and cause roofing damage. So take these steps to properly clear your gutter.
- Wear proper eye protection.
- Have someone help stabilize the ladder for added precaution.
- Use a hose to flush out the gutter.
- Seal any leaks found.
- Clean any mold with bleach.
- If you’re finding this annual task too much, consider installing a gutter guard system.
Add Some Caulking
For a $20 tube of caulk and a $5-10 caulk gun, you can caulk any gaps in siding, windows or doors. Applying the caulk inside and out will prevent cold air from entering.
To avoid injuries, you should carefully walk your property and shore up all potential hazards. Focusing a little time on these easy, cost-effective projects now means when springtime rolls around, you’ll be ready to enjoy your home.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
