10 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Winter Now

The pumpkin spice latte is here. We’ve pulled out our fleece vests. We’ve traded our shorts for pants. Winter is coming, Charlotte.  

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Though Charlotte is known for fall seasons that fluctuate in temperatures, we can’t deny the fact that colder weather is right around the corner. 

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That means it’s time to think about how best to prepare your home for winter - preferably before you can see your own breath in the air!

10 Winter Prep Tips

1. Call your favorite HVAC contractor to check your heating equipment for safety and proper operation. At that time, he or she will verify your gas furnace is safe to use in the winter months. FYI - your heat pump should be checked, too. Malfunctioning electric heat strips will surprise you when your electric bill arrives. 
   

2. Disconnect garden hoses from water spigots. If you have frost-proof spigots, hoses are not supposed to be connected during winter months. If you have the non-frost proof spigots, you can use insulated covers for them. Most plumbing repairs in winter come from these breaking due to a homeowner not knowing either what type of spigots they have or how to prepare them for winter time. Please call a plumber to have these checked if you have questions.
   

3. Close all storm windows and screens as necessary. Take this time to clean your windows, as well. If there is any missing caulking, this is the time to fix it. Drafts can cause discomfort in your home - and run up your electric and gas bills.
   

4. This is the best time of year to trim or prune your trees and bushes. Please do so safely or call an arborist to do so for you if you need assistance.
   
5. Important pop quiz: Do you have a wood burning fireplace or a gas burning? Wood burning fireplaces should be checked yearly and swept as recommended by a chimney sweep. Gas burning fireplaces should be checked for proper functionality, as well. Most chimney sweep companies can do this for you.
   

6. Reverse your ceiling fans! If you’ve ever wondered about the function of that “little switch,” well, this is it. Reverse mode moves the heat at ceiling level down to the floor, all while not creating a “chilly” breeze.
   
7. Clean out your gutters! When leaves start to fall, they build up and block up your downspouts causing water damage to your home. FYI - make sure downspout extensions divert water a minimum of 3’ from your foundation.
   

8. Drain your lawn irrigation system or have an irrigation company drain it for you. This prevents you from cracking your irrigation lines (if you have them), which could cause big leaks and costly repairs next spring.
   

9. Make sure to add stabilizer to your lawn equipment gas cans as per manufacturer's instructions and fill your equipment gas tanks full with this treated gas. You should run the equipment with this gas for a few minutes to prevent carburetor varnishing. (This is why the equipment has trouble running next year.)  
   

10. Another important pop quiz: How old are your carbon monoxide detectors? They are only good for five years, and your home should have at least two different types of detectors. There are three types: plug-in, battery, and hybrid plug-in with a battery backup.  We only recommend using high quality hybrid detectors. Please read this link for more information on carbon monoxide safety. 

Need help preparing your home for winter? We’re here to provide maintenance and service. Call us 24/7 at 704-771-1020, or schedule your first appointment now. 

Our comfort specialists can help you answer questions about financing and provide a free quote.