How do I prepare my home for winter?
If you’re going to live in the mountains, you’re going to have to be prepared for snow. And cold. A lot of cold snow.
Making sure your house and property are ready for winter weather is essential - but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here’s some tips for making sure you and your home are ready to go:
House
Have your furnace cleaned and serviced so it works at an optimal level. Change your air filter on your furnace.
Do you have a fireplace? If it’s a gas system, consider having it serviced and cleaned. If it’s wood burning, have a chimney sweep clean and buy extra firewood to make it through the winter.
Do you have a hot tub? Consider having it cleaned and serviced before it is buried in snow. If you do not use it in the winter, make sure you winterize it.
Check your windows and doors for air gaps or leaks. Consider filling gaps with felt tape and wrapping windows with a clear insulator kit.
Property
Prepare for snow: How long is your driveway? Do you need a four-wheeler with a snow plow? Do you need a snow-blower? Can you shovel it? Do you need to hire someone to plow for you?
Buy ice melt salt for your driveway, sidewalks, door steps
Do you have a power generator? Run a test and make sure it is ready to go: oil changed, gas filled up (if applicable), change air filter?
Disconnect all hoses and put on protective covers.
Do you have a sprinkler system? Make sure you winterize your system, blow out the lines and shut off the water.
Do you have a propane tank? Consider having it topped off as it’s hard for trucks to make it to mountain homes when it snows
Consider having your septic tank emptied and serviced, if needed, before the snow starts
