Winter is right around the corner, and getting your home ready before the cold sets in can save you time, stress, and money. Early winterization helps prevent issues like frozen pipes, drafts, and heating system failures, keeping your home warm and energy-efficient. While many tasks are simple enough for DIYers, some jobs are best left to professionals. For everything you can’t handle on your own, 1st Home & Commercial Services is here to help.

DIY Winter Home Prep Checklist

There are several things you can easily do yourself to winterize your home and prepare for the colder months ahead:

• Seal Windows and Doors: Walk around your home and inspect windows and doors for drafts. You can apply weather stripping or caulk to close any gaps, keeping the cold air out and the heat in.
• Insulate Exposed Pipes: Use foam pipe insulation to cover pipes in unheated areas like basements, garages, or crawl spaces. This helps prevent freezing and bursting when temperatures drop.
• Clean Your Gutters: Remove any leaves and debris from your gutters and downspouts to prevent water from pooling and freezing, which can lead to ice dams and roof damage.
• Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: With the heater running more often, it's important to ensure these detectors are functioning properly. Replace batteries and test them regularly.
• Reverse Your Ceiling Fans: Switch the direction of ceiling fans to rotate clockwise, pushing warm air back down into the room.

Before a Freeze: What You Need to Do

When temperatures are expected to drop below freezing, take these quick DIY steps to prevent damage:

• Let Faucets Drip: Keep a small stream of water running from your faucets, especially those connected to pipes located along exterior walls. Moving water is less likely to freeze.
• Open Cabinet Doors: If you have plumbing near exterior walls, such as under the kitchen sink, open the cabinet doors to let warm air circulate around the pipes.
• Disconnect Outdoor Hoses: Remove garden hoses and store them inside. Cover outdoor faucets with insulated hose bib covers to prevent freezing.
• Add Extra Insulation: If you have pipes that are still exposed after applying pipe insulation, consider adding extra layers or using heat tape in areas where temperatures drop significantly.