Winterize Your Home: 6 Jobs to Finish Before the First Freeze

Our North Sound mornings are getting crisp, and the first hard freeze will be here before you know it. A few hours of work now can save you from a burst pipe, a leaky roof or a surprise repair bill in January. Here is a simple checklist to finish this month.

1. Clear gutters and downspouts

Fallen leaves clog gutters fast. Clear them out and make sure downspouts carry water away from the foundation, so rain does not pool against your home.

2. Check the roof and flashing

Look for missing, lifted or damaged shingles and worn flashing around chimneys and vents. Small leaks are much cheaper to fix before a wet winter.

3. Seal drafts around doors and windows

Replace worn weatherstripping and caulk gaps. It keeps the house more comfortable and keeps heat from slipping outside.

4. Service the furnace and swap filters

Schedule a heating check before the cold snap, when HVAC companies get busy. Put in a fresh filter so your system runs the way it should.

5. Protect outdoor faucets and hoses

Disconnect and drain garden hoses, and shut off and drain exterior spigots where you can. Water left in the line can freeze and cause damage.

6. Test smoke and CO alarms

We spend more time inside and run heat more in winter. Test every alarm and replace batteries or old units.

Thinking about selling or buying this winter?

A well-kept home shows better and inspects better. If you are curious what your home could sell for, or you are ready to start your search, the LaCount Home Group team is happy to talk it through.