Even if it is already getting cold where you live, it’s not too late. You can still winterize or weatherize in several ways that will help protect your home and family throughout the winter months.
Clean the Gutters
If you can do it yourself, carefully go ahead and clean out the gutters. Always make sure someone else is home when climbing a ladder and be sure the ladder is stable. If you aren’t up for doing it yourself, hire someone to do it sooner than later. Make sure the person you hire is insured. It’s not a bad idea to make sure such service people are also covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy. Gutters need to be cleaned thoroughly so water won’t be trapped by debris and later freeze. Also, check to make sure that when gutters drain the water doesn’t pool near the house.
Don’t Forget the Spigots
If you have an exterior spigot for your hose, you need to stop the water supply to it during cold weather to prevent frozen pipes. Most exterior faucets have indoor shut offs. Turn off the shut off valve and then go outside and turn the spigot to the “on” position. Leave it on for a few hours or even a few days to drain any water already in the pipes.
Maintain your Generator
A generator needs maintenance in order to be ready when you need it. It must be in good condition to run efficiently. It is a good idea to drain old gas and refill it with fresh fuel each season and to change the oil. Then, start up your generator and let it run for a few minutes. Do this regularly to make sure the generator is in working order when or if you need it. Make sure to keep extra gas and oil on hand so you won’t be without in an emergency situation.
*Don’t forget to winterize your car:
- Pack an emergency kit (including blankets) to keep in the car
- Don’t forget to add a de-icing product and a window scraper
- Lighter weight oil will help your engine
- Check the anti-freeze
- Test your battery or replace it