Winter Home Maintenance Checklist and Safety Tips

So you’ve decked the halls, finished your shopping, RSVPd to all the holiday parties, and are almost ready to fa la la your way into the new year.  But wait!  Before you get put on Santa’s naughty list for being a bad homeowner, there are a few housekeeping tasks you need to tend to.  With our helpful guide to winter home preparedness, you’ll be bringing the comfort and joy of knowing your home is safe and sound the whole season long.  We’re here to help with a list of seasonal home maintenance tasks you should complete before the year is out, so you can start the new year off without a big emergency repair bill!

Make sure your home’s emergency generator is ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Ensure that your generator is cleaned, has clear vents, a charged battery, and fresh fuel with a winter stabilizer additive.  Place your generator in a covered area or purchase a weather-proof cover to shield it from moisture and the elements.  Test the battery and clean the terminals of corrosion. Avoid charging the batteries on a battery-powered gen if the temperature is below freezing, as this could cause permanent damage; in extremely cold climates consider a battery warmer to maintain functionality. Inspect the filters, fuel lines, power cables for signs of damage. Drain any old fuel and replace as needed with winter-ready products.  Do a test run to ensure it’s ready when you need it most, instead of winding up in a pickle!

Follow the 20-20-20 rule for operation: keep them 20 feet away from the house and aim the exhaust away from buildings, vents, and windows; always power off and allow 20 minutes to cool down before you refuel them; spend $20 on an alarm to detect any carbon monoxide issues. You should also maintain at least 5 feet of clearance around and above the generator for maximum safety. Never run your generator indoors in a garage or any other part of the house for danger of carbon monoxide poisoining.

Do a battery and test check of all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

Check each smoke/carbon monoxide detectors for expiration dates and replace as necessary; for carbon monoxide detectors this is generally every 2 to 5 years, smoke detectors every 7 to 10 years.  CO poisoning risk increases during winter months due to use of heating appliances, poor ventilation from closed windows and doors, and poorly maintained or faulty furnaces; it’s best to install them in multiple places throughout your home and especially near bedrooms.

Always make sure to warm up your gas-powered appliances outside the home, not in your garage or basement, yes even if the door is open.   Warming up vehicles or even starting up your snowblower in a garage or indoors can release dangerous amounts of CO2 and trap it within the home. Remember: OUTSIDE ONLY.

Clean out all vents and exhaust fans in the home and replace all air filters or hire a professional for a full-service check.

All vents, filters, and ehxuasts should have at least an annual if not biannual inspection. You should check the air filters monthly, and swap them out for new ones to keep the air clear and save on energy costs.  Fans and vents are usually found in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and attics. hese items may be hidden behind drop-ceilings or in maintenance closets. Upon inspection they should be free and clear moving, without a buildup of dust, debris, and lint including dryers, return/supply air vents, bathroom exhaust fans, and kitchen exhaust fans. You can hire a professional cleaning service to do the job efficiently if you’re not feeling confident. If you’re a new homeowner with a recently purchased house, we recommend doing a thorough professional cleaning for your first winter season, just to err on the safe side

Winterize outdoor water sources and insulate any exposed pipes.

You can invest in specialized insulation for outdoor pipes and faucets in any unheated spaces.  Indoor spaces which are unused or homes which are closed up for winter should be maintained at a minimum 55F to 60F degrees to prevent burst pipes, and main living spaces at a minimum of 68F-70F degrees.  Make sure you disconnect all exterior hoses, sprinklers and outdoor slop sinks/faucets and close off the interior shut-off valves which connect them.  Any interior pipes that are against exterior walls will also need insulating.  During extreme deep freezes, you can allow water to gently drip from indoor faucets to help alleviate frozen pipe issues.

Clean your chimney, fireplace, furnace, water heater, and firepits before heavy use.

Blocked chimneys and improperly maintained fireplaces are one of the leading causes of housefires, as well as being a source of carbon monoxide poisoning. Prevent catastrophy by having them professionally cleaned and cleared of debris and blockages.  Clear any excess debris and dried foliage from your fire pit, ensure it is clear of bare branches, and place the pit a safe distance from your home before using.   Likewise, the water heater and furnace should be drained and cleaned by a professional as needed on an annual basis.  Maintaining these appliances will ensure longevity and proper usage and lowers risk of leaks and costly damages.

Never leave lit candles, portable heaters, space heaters, electric blankets, warming massagers, and/or ceramic wall-heaters on or plugged in when no one is home.

Make sure all portable and plug-in warmers space heaters have an at least 3 foot radius clear around them.  Thoroughly inspect all ceramic electric wall heaters before mounting to ensure there is no chance of shorts which can cause fire. When lighting holiday candles, keep at least a 1 foot radius clear and do not set them within reach of pets or children. Many holiday decorations are made of synthetic materials and are highly flammable!

Leaving any of these items plugged in or lit when you’re not home, even on timers, when you’re not in the home can lead to a fire hazard and safety risk. Pets in the home or young children left unattended are further at risk of death or injury if any of these items malfunctions or gets knocked over. Accidental house fires are also often caused by misuse of these items.

Clear all electric baseboard heaters of any curtains, bedding, pillows, boxes, etc and ensure that nothing is directly touching the heaters or elements.  Gas ovens can cause carbon monoxide poisining and electrical ovens can cause a fire hazard as well, so please do not utilize them as a heat source for your home.  Opt for rechargeable battery powered flashlights and LED lights for emergencies to increase your safety precautions.

While popular home blogs may encourage you to leave dryer sheets, liquid softener, and homemade concoctions around the home to “freshen it up”, we advise against it as it’s both a safety hazard for pets and children, as well as a toxic gas and fire hazard. If you insist on doing so, never place them by heaters, appliances, fireplaces, your kitchen, or other flammable heat source like a candle.

Check all lighting outside the home and replace bulbs as needed.

Winter means earlier sunsets and higher fall risk, so always ensure that all stairways, entrances, exits and pathways are clearly lit.  We recommend utilizing motion sensor lights, and replacing older bulbs with more energy efficient, and much brighter LED options for efficiency and visibility.  Consider installing additional solar-powered path lighting in the form of LED rope lights or in-ground staked lighting for better visibility in the early darkness.

Clear the gutters, inspect the roof, and make sure all skylights and windows are properly sealed.

Wintry weather can wreak havoc on your home if you have a leak or improperly sealed doors and windows.  Applying insulating plastic or weatherproofing tape to the interior and exteior of windows and doors can help reduce heat loss as well as sealing out wind, ice, snow, and wet winter slush.  Tree branches can be a major source of damage to homes when weighed down with significant snowfall and ice.  Make sure to also inspect the trees and shrubs on your property; trim any low-hanging branches that may be touching the roof or hanging low by windows.

When hanging holiday lights, avoid mounting them directly to gutters to reduce weight from pulling them down.  Use lightweight clips made to fit into siding, or specialty adhesive tabs made for attaching to the underside of roofs and porches to ensure you do not damage them.

If you notice any missing shingles or leaks in the roof, call for a repair ASAP before the harshest storms of winter are underway!

Stock up on sand, gravel, animal-safe salt, and kitty litter by all entrances and exits, and keep them in an easily accessible place in the home.

Salting and sanding prior to inclement weather can help reduce fall risk!  Combining sand, gravel and kitty litter with pet-safe ice melt is a great option! The combination can help to increase traction on slippery surfaces while you’re waiting for ice-melt to work its magic.  Some surfaces may become damaged from heavy use of salt or ice-melt chemicals, so always check the label to make sure you’re choosing the right product.

Shoveling as soon as possible after the snow stops ensures that it will be much easier and lighter to remove, and prevents significant ice build-up. Ensure you have a back-saver shovel nearby as well, or retrieve them from garages or sheds before inclement weather hits that day.

What else would you include on your winter home maintenance checklist? Let us know in the comments below!