Prepare for Winter with Our Fall Home Checklist
Use these helpful tips for getting your home ready for winter.
The Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a “Wet Winter Whirlwind”!
With damp, chilly days and nights just around the corner, now’s the time to start thinking about what needs to be done to get your home ready for winter!
If there’s one thing we’ve learned in the years we’ve been building custom on-your-lot homes at Wayne Homes, it’s that when the cold weather hits, you want a cozy home.
The best way to ensure your home stays cozy is by properly maintaining it. Wayne Homes has developed some smart home maintenance tips that we like to pass along to our homebuyers in our Fall Home Checklist to ensure their home is prepared to face a long and potentially difficult winter season.
Here is our Fall Home Checklist for winterizing your home effectively whether the winter is mild or extreme!
Take a bird’s eye view.
Fall is a great time to clean your gutters and roof. Try and time it after most of the leaves in your area have fallen – but before it gets too chilly. Be aware of ice dams/ice buildup on roofs and valleys. These can form when gutters aren’t properly cleaned. While you’re up there cleaning the gutters, take a look at the roof. Clear leaves, pine needles, dirt, and other accumulated debris. Cut back overhanging branches to prevent damage to shingles and gutters.
Blow out to avoid freezing.
Make sure you “blow out” each of your outdoor spigots and hoses prior to the season’s first frost, to ensure there’s no leftover moisture contained in them that can freeze and cause damage. Also, shut off the water main that leads to your outdoor water sources just to be extra safe.
Clear the drain/sump pump exit.
Be aware of the location of your natural drain or sump pump exit. Make sure it is clear of debris, snow, and ice as this could cause freezing and flooding of the basement.
Make a clean sweep.
If you’ve never had a chimney sweep inspect your fireplace, then now is the time. Contact a chimney cleaning company, so that when the weather turns chilly, you’ll be all set to build your fire. Failing to do so can be hazardous–damage or blockages could be present.
Check your drainage.
Make sure the soil around your foundation hasn’t settled, creating areas for water to pool at your foundation. Be sure you direct water away from your home, so that when snow or rain falls, you don’t have standing water that could potentially cause flooding or damage. You can encourage proper drainage by grading the soil by your foundation away from the home. Then go around and check your rain gutter downspouts. Make sure water is getting moved away from the home. Add downspout extenders if necessary.
Winterize your lawn.
Later October or November is an ideal time to apply fertilizer with winterizer to your lawn. This lays the groundwork for a great-looking lawn in the springtime.
Check your external outlets.
No one wants to spend hours stringing holiday lights only to have a malfunctioning outlet! Plus, fire prevention safety starts with making sure your electrical sources, outlets, and cords are all working properly. Check that your exterior outlets all have functional weatherproof covers.
Set your reminder now–change your filter!
You want the most efficient heating system possible, both for environmental and financial reasons. Swapping out old furnace filters for new ones, and having a professional check your furnace to ensure it’s in proper working order, is critical. You may have heard home maintenance experts suggest you replace filters at least every 90 days. However, if you have pets, you should change them every 60 days. Furnaces and chimneys should be serviced at least once a year to clear any buildup and to keep them running efficiently.
Mind the gap.
Wayne homeowners know they have well-constructed windows in their custom built family homes, but if your home has older windows, be mindful of the cool breezes that can seep in through cracks, gaps, and unsealed closures. Make sure attic access panels are closed to prevent condensation on the roof system. For concrete patios, driveways, or walkways, be sure to seal them every one to three years to help prevent cracks.
Reverse your fans.
Ceiling fans are everyone’s favorite summer budget-saver. But they can help out in the winter as well! Have your ceiling fans move in a clockwise direction so they push hot air along the ceiling towards the floor. If they’re going counterclockwise, they won’t be as effective in helping to maintain the warmth in your home.
Layer on warmth.
This might sound obvious, but adding a warm layer between you and the cold is not only practical, but it also adds to your home’s cozy factor. Add insulated window treatments to your windows, fluffy rugs on your floors, and soft blankets to your couches and beds.
Got a Wayne home? Then, you’re covered!
Many of the things that are typically recommended such sealing cracks or adding insulation, aren’t needed with a new Wayne home because those features are included in every home we build. When you have a Wayne Home, you can skip a lot of our Fall Home Checklist items because the work has been done for you! That saves time and money when preparing for the colder months–and provides additional peace of mind.
Here are a few of our energy efficient included features:
- Alpha Pro Tech REX™ weather resistant housewrap to further reduce moisture and air infiltration
- Pella® vinyl single hung windows and patio doors that meet and/or exceed Energy Code Standards
- R-49 ceiling insulation
- R-19 wall insulation
- R-10 insulated foam board atop 2’ of interior unfinished basement walls
- Caulk and sealant package throughout
Protect from the start.
The best way to ensure your home is efficient in any season is to start with a well-constructed custom built family home. With Wayne Homes, we stand by our quality construction with an extensive home warranty, which covers the structure for 10 years and fit and finish items for 2 years.The best way to ensure your home is efficient in any season is to start with a well-constructed custom built family home. With Wayne Homes, we stand by our quality construction with an extensive home warranty, which covers the structure for 10 years and fit and finish items for 2 years.
Are you ready for your own custom built family home from Wayne Homes?
Contact us–we are ready to help you create a cozy, dream home.
About Wayne Homes
Wayne Homes is a custom homebuilder in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia (see all Model Home Centers). We offer more than 50 fully customizable floorplans and a team dedicated to providing the best experience in the home building industry. For more information, Ask Julie by Live Chat or call us at (866) 253-6807.
Disclaimer: The details of this blog are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change.
