Preparing Your Home for Winter

The cold is finally here to stay. If you haven't already done so, here are some things you should do to get the outside of your house ready for the winter weather and keep inside warm and cozy.

• Clean the gutters: Clear them now of all those fall leaves. If your gutters are full of debris, water can back up against the house and damage roofing, siding and wood trim- plus cause leaks and ice dams.
• Turn off exterior faucets: These will freeze which can cause pipes to burst as the ice expands. So turn them off and drain what water is in them.
• Inspect the roof: Before the snow piles up on top of your home, make sure your roof is in good condition.
• Chimney sweep: If you have a chimney, now is a good time to clean it. You’ll also want to inspect the chimney to make sure your damper isn’t worn or rusted- if it is, it will allow cold air to enter your home.
• Tune up the boiler: It will be working overtime in the winter season, so make sure it’s in good working order to prevent any unwanted surprises.
• Caulk: Caulk around windows and doors where needed. If the gaps between siding and window or door frames are bigger than the width of a nickel, you need to reapply. This will help seal any gaps where cold air could seep in.
• Storm doors: Replace screen doors with storm doors.
• Weatherstripping: Weatherstrip around door frames to keep out cold air.