This week marks the first real consistent cold weather of the season — with plenty more cold weather to come! You will want to make sure you’ve taken some critical steps to keep your house warm and safe through the winter months.
Turn off the outside water 
Go to the interior cut-off water valve and close it. Many homes have two, one for the front and one for the back, make sure to get both of them. Leave the outside faucet open about a quarter turn to allow it to breath. If you have a sprinkler system, be sure to turn off the water that feeds them and have the lines professionally blown out in order to avoid the possibility of cracked pipes as water turns to ice and expands.
Replace missing roof shingles
If there are any roof shingles that have blown off, now is the time to replace them. Water that leaks through missing shingles are bad any time of the year, but they’re especially problematic in the winter when water that enters your attic can freeze, cracking wood beams.
Clean the gutters
Cleaning your gutters is one of the most important things you can do to get ready for winter. Gutters that are full of leaves and other debris trap water from rain and snow melt. Then, when the temperatures drop that water turns into ice, which can cause the gutters to pull away from the house and create overhead hazards.
Trim dead tree limbs
When ice storms hit, tree branches encased with ice become extremely heavy. If those branches are dead or dying, there’s a good chance they’ll rip away from the tree and plummet to the ground causing damage to anything beneath — like your home or car. To avoid the danger, trim dead branches well before winter weather arrives.
Put away the garden hoses
Drain and put your garden hoses away in the garage or shed. It is important to drain all of the water out of them so it does not freeze and expand, causing the hose to split.
Call a chimney sweep
Before you burn your first log, make sure your fireplace (or any heating appliance burning gas, oil or wood) chimney and vents are clean and in good repair. This will prevent chimney fires and prevent carbon monoxide from creeping into your home.
Reverse your ceiling fans
If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch, use it to run the fan’s blades in a clockwise direction after you turn on your heat. The fan will produce an updraft and push down into the room heated air from the ceiling — remember, hot air rises.
Caulk around windows and doors
If the gaps between siding and window or door frames are bigger than the width of a nickel, you need to re-apply exterior caulk. Check the joints in window and door frames, too. Silicone caulk is best for exterior use because it won’t shrink and it can stand up to the elements.
Seal drafts
Weatherstripping is probably the least expensive way to save the most amount of money this winter. For doors, install the strips on both the jam and door itself for the tightest fit and be sure a sweep is installed at the bottom. For windows, put foam or rubber stripping on the top and bottom edges and seal sides with removable strips. Use shrinkable plastic wrap to further seal your windows against drafts. These products install in minutes, often tightening into position by means of a blow dryer.
Get your furnace serviced
Your furnace is the very heart of a cozy comfortable winter. Calling a professional to conduct an annual check-up to make sure it stays strong all season long. Your contractor will clean the furnace to remove dust that could hamper its function, replace dirty filters, and ensure it’s not venting harmful exhaust into your home.
Move water away from your house
Add extensions to downspouts so that water runs at least 3 to 4 feet away from the foundation
Purchase snow and ice supplies
Don’t wait for the first winter storm to restock cold-weather essentials such as salt or ice melt. Check the condition of your snow shovels and buy new ones if need be. Start up your snow blower and make sure you have fresh gas for it.
These are all very simple and very easy things that you can do to make sure your home is ready for winter. Stay warm!
THE 905 REAL ESTATE GUYS
info@905realestateguys.com
Sean Kavanagh 905.220.9198
Leo Manchisi 905.334.9650