Preparing Your Home for Fall and Winter

Photo features: LP SmartSide Pro-finish Siding in Seal with Montana Suede Soffit and Fascia. By Casey Nelson Exteriors

To prepare your home for fall and winter, focus on weatherproofing, heating system maintenance, and safety checks. This includes cleaning gutters, inspecting the roof, servicing the furnace, insulating the home, sealing air leaks, and ensuring proper ventilation. Additionally, prepare for potential power outages by testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, having a backup power source, and gathering necessary supplies.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

Weatherproofing:

• Gutters and Downspouts: Clean gutters and downspouts to prevent ice dams and water damage.
• Roof: Inspect the roof for damaged or missing shingles and make necessary repairs.
• Windows and Doors: Seal air leaks around windows and doors with caulk or weatherstripping.
• Insulation: Check and add insulation in the attic and crawl spaces to prevent heat loss.
  • A well-insulated house can help to significantly reduce your energy bill, especially during autumn and winter. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to make your home more energy-efficient is to insulate and draft-proof your external doors.
    • In Nebraska, recommended R-values for insulation vary by location and building component, but generally fall within these ranges: attics R-49 to R-60, walls R-13 to R-25, and floors R-25 to R-30. These values are based on the U.S. Department of Energy recommendations and the need to minimize heat loss during Nebraska’s cold winters.

• Exterior faucets: Drain and shut off exterior faucets to prevent freezing pipes.

• • Before temperatures get close to freezing, drain your garden hose, disconnect it from your outdoor faucet, and store it in your garage or shed. You may also want to shut off your exterior water valves to prevent ice from bursting or otherwise damaging your pipes.

• Underground Sprinkler Systems: To winterize your underground sprinkler system, you need to shut off the water supply, drain all the water from the pipes, and protect any exposed components from freezing temperatures. This prevents damage from expanding ice during freezing weather. For a more thorough draining of the system it is recommended that you use an air compressor to blow out any remaining water from the pipes.
• Outdoor furniture: Clean and store or cover outdoor furniture.
• Trees and Shrubs: Prune any branches that may be close to the house and could cause damage during winter storms.

Heating System:

• Furnace: Schedule a furnace tune-up and cleaning with a qualified technician.
• Filters: Replace or clean furnace filters regularly.
• Thermostat: Consider a programmable thermostat to optimize energy usage.
• Wood-burning fireplace: Have your chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional.

• • If you’re planning on using your fireplace this autumn, line the area with newspaper and remove loose ashes and dust with a shovel and broom. Then, use a wire brush to clean off the soot from the brick, and use baking soda and warm water on a sponge to clean the remaining soot and dust.

Safety:

• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors: Test detectors and replace batteries.
• Fire extinguishers: Ensure fire extinguishers are accessible and in good working order.
• Fire extinguishers should be recharged by certified professionals. Local fire departments, fire equipment companies, and some hardware stores that partner with fire safety companies are good places to start. You can also check with the manufacturer of your extinguisher or look for specialized fire equipment repair shops
• Backup power: Consider a generator or other backup power source in case of power outages.
• Supplies: Gather essential supplies like flashlights, batteries, and non-perishable food in case of emergencies.

Other important tasks:

• Deep clean the house: Thoroughly clean your home to remove dust and allergens.

• • Wipe down skirting boards and dust commonly forgotten areas like lampshades and the top of cupboards and shelves. It’s also a good idea to give your windows, and window treatment (curtains, blinds, shutters etc) a little love.
  • Don’t forget to deep clean your major appliances too, as well as kitchen surfaces and on top of cupboards.

• Declutter: Clear out clutter to create a more organized and comfortable living space.

• • Next, declutter and streamline your living space. Donate unwanted furniture, homeware and electrical items, plus clothes and shoes to charity.
  • You can donate all your in-date but unwanted food to food banks, where those in need can make use of them.

• Update lighting: Consider adding warm lighting to create a cozy atmosphere.

• • Change to warmer LED bulbs and place more floor and table lights around your home. Add dimmable lighting. Dimmable lights not only make your space feel cozier they also minimize energy consumption and prolong the life of your bulbs.

• Prepare garden: Autumn is one of the most important seasons for your garden. Cut back perennials that have died down, divide herbaceous perennials, move tender plants into a greenhouse or conservatory, and harvest apples, pears, grapes and nuts.
• Clean and store summer items: Wash and store outdoor items like patio furniture, grills, and gardening tools.
• Store spring/summer lawn care tools:  To properly store your lawn mower for the winter, prepare it by emptying or stabilizing the fuel, removing the battery, cleaning the mower thoroughly, and storing it in a dry, covered location. This prevents damage from moisture and rodents, ensuring it starts easily next spring. 
• Prepare for winter snow removal and ice removal: To prepare your snow blower for winter, you should change the oil, check and potentially replace the spark plug, inspect and potentially replace belts, lubricate moving parts, check tire pressure, and ensure the fuel system is in good condition, either by draining it or adding fuel stabilizer. You should also clean the snow blower and store it in a dry place, preferably covered.  Locate your snow shovel and purchase deicer.

Photo features: Norandex Mocha Siding with matching soffit, fascia, beam, downs and gutters. By Casey Nelson Exteriors