For many of us, the ideal time to get our homes ready for the colder months that loom ahead has already peaked.  For the rest, the time is rapidly approaching.  Either way, if freezing temps are right around the corner for you, it’s time to get your home winterized now.  Here are a few practical pointers…

1.  Clean the gutters and downspouts.  Or pay a handyman to do it.  Properly functioning gutters and downspouts are essential for getting water out and away from your home where it can seep into cracks and crevices and expand as it freezes, causing major damage.  Make sure to clean them once again after the leaves have all fallen.

2.  Shut off the exterior faucets and drain garden hoses.  I actually talked myself out of doing this one year for some silly reason and wound up with a whole mess of trouble including a split pipe running all the way through the exterior wall and into my basement.  Even if you’ve gotten by trouble free in the past, don’t count on being so lucky this time.  Frozen water in pipes does break them time and time again!

3.  Replace your furnace filters.  Or clean them if you have permanent or electrostatic filters.  If you’re like me and don’t end up doing filter maintenance near as often as it should realistically be done, covering the duty at a minimum of once each season is an easy way to remember the chore.  Don’t forget having an annual inspection of your heating system done by a pro to make sure it’s running safely and efficiently.

4.  Sweep the chimney.  Chimney sweeps are not obsolete whatsoever even though the tall black hats they used to wear might be.  A chimney fire can cause all kinds of damage and they happen all the time when buildup occurs.  Have your chimney cleaned every couple of years or even more often if you use your fireplace frequently.

5.  Get your tools ready.  Make sure your snow shovel is handy and ready to go.  Check to make sure you have plenty gas on hand for the snowblower and that it starts up and runs properly.  It’s no fun having to do this while the snow is piling up.  It’s also a convenient time to run the gas out and winterize lawnmowers or other yard tools that will be in hibernation for the next several months.

By taking care of these little things now, you’ll be moving into winter on sure footing, eliminating many big problems that the season can bring right at their source.  And who says wintertime can’t be enjoyable?