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Spring cleaning is normally something many people do, but probably only a few people understand what it is to winterize the home. It is a good idea every fall, to take a look at the house and see if it is prepared to get through another winter. At this particular time of year, with the leaves dying out, inspecting the house is easier, so you can tell if any shrubs are hanging onto the house. Clean out roots and vines attached to the siding, if not they may cause damage – even bricks are vulnerable.

Should they be no longer needed to do any watering, the garden hose should all be emptied and rolled up to be put into storage for the winter. The outside faucets have to have the water turned off, and then allowed to drain dry. When you’re done with your patio furniture for the year, clean it up and afterwards store it in a dry spot. You should safeguard any young trees you might have with mulch, particularly in their first year of growth. To support excessive rainfall, you should purge any drainage ditches that you have.

Cold weather naturally leads one’s thoughts to fireplaces. Chimney sweeps are in high demand wih the first cold spell, so avoid the queue and get in early. If you are going to need firewood, find a source and put in a good stock early. If you end up in a rural area, look out for local residents selling firewood without advertising. Verify and confirm that all the smoke sensors are working, irrespective of whether you light fires in winter or not. Some people leave holiday lights up all year, and the wires should be checked for flexibility. And presently is the the perfect time to get the storm windows set up. Hot weather dries out weather-stripping, so check if they need changing.

The windows are usually hardly ever opened in winter, so it is necessary to check the condition of the filters in the range hood. Do a review of the ground-slope all around the residence, ensuring that it falls away from the walls. Water draining into the basement and the platform can cause significant problems. The first deterioration is wet rot, which ultimately leads to dry rot, and this is definitely something to be averted anywhere in your home. Make a point of checking, at regular time periods, that water is not seeping into your home.

It is apparently unavoidable that leaks come, and the most likely places are the roof, the gutter and down-spouts, and the inside plumbing. Set a priority to get any leaks you see fixed. Wrap any external pipes, certainly so if your house is older, and reduce drafts by placing a cover over air-conditioning units. Your carpets and rugs may need to be shampooed to get rid of dust which in winter is readily noticed. You might as well use the time to wash the windows.