How To Prep Your Home For Winter Weather

Prepare For Emergencies – Every year, harsh winter conditions get the best of hundreds of people in the US. It’s important to be prepared in case you are unable to leave your home for supplies. Here’s a list of supplies we recommend keeping in your home this winter:

• Non-Perishable Food and Bottled Water for at least 3 days
• Flashlights/Headlamps & Batteries in case the power goes out.
• Snow Shovels ( To get out of your home!)
• Ice Melt & Sand – Use the ice melt first, and then throw sand over the melted ice to give traction.
• Alternative Heat – If your main heat source fails, it is good to have backups such as kerosene heaters and wool blankets.
• Tool Kit – Most residences already have one, but it’s a good idea to keep a tool kit stocked with common tools and any specialty tool you may need for heaters, lights, etc.

Inspect Roof – The worst time to realize your roof has a leak is after the first snow hits. Luckily, it is easy to inspect your roof for possible issues beforehand. You don’t even need to get on the roof! Grab a pair of binoculars and work your way around the house, looking for the following:

• Broken or Missing Shingles
• Cracked Caulk or Rust Spots on the Flashing
• Shingles that are Buckling or Curling Up
• Moss or Lichen Growing on the Roof (this could indicate the roof is decaying beneath the surface)

If you aren’t comfortable tackling these issues yourself, you can get a professional roof inspection for roughly $119-$300.

Insulate Windows – Windows that don’t seal property can let cold drafts into your home, driving your energy bills up and comfort down. To prevent these drafts, you can re-seal the window with silicone, line the window with draft blockers, or even seal it with shrink wrap! If your window is cracked, clear nail polish can temporarily fix the window until it can be replaced.

Inspect Fireplace/Woodstove – It is a good idea to have your fireplace/woodstove inspected every year before using it. This is to ensure that there are no birds nests or other blockages that could catch fire in your chimney and cause problems. These inspections can cost anywhere between $79 and $500 depending on your area and the type of fireplace you have.

Clear Decks and Pathways – With winter comes snow, and with snow comes snow shoveling! Cleaning everything off your deck will make shoveling snow so much easier than it would be trying to navigate around summer furniture! Clear wide paths to outbuildings and anything else you may want access to after the snow flies.

Following this steps will help you prepare yourself and your home for winter! If you enjoyed this post and would like to talk to one of our Southwest Colorado real estate experts, give us a call at (970) 507-8655. To view the homes we currently have for sale, click here!