13 Things You Should Do Now to Protect Your Home From Cold Weather and Winter Storms

Check these off your to-do list before the first snowflakes fall.

Yes, winter is coming—and along with sweater weather and the holidays, that brings chilly temps and harsh weather. And just as you wouldn't brave the winter weather without boots and a cozy winter coat, you need to protect your home from freezing temperatures and the elements to ensure you stay warm and cozy all season long.

Fall is the perfect time to take care of these to-dos and tuck your home in for the winter—because no one wants to be clearing a jammed-up gutter when the temps are in the teens.

Related: 10 Outdoor Home Maintenance Tasks to Do Before Fall

Give Your Home a Full Inspection

Inspect your home's exterior walls, both inside and out, looking for potential issues, such as gaps in the caulking, signs of squirrels or other critters taking residence in your roofline, evidence of a roof leak, or a cold, drafty spot indoors.

Note any issues that you find as you go, so you don't miss a spot when you're in repair mode.

Clean Your Gutters

As the autumn leaves fall, they can deposit a lot of debris in your gutters—which can lead to clogs. And if they're still in place as winter arrives, you could end up with an ice dam, where the water freezes in place, potentially damaging your gutters, your siding, and even your roof.

Give your gutters a clean sweep before the snow arrives, so you know that any winter weather that comes your way won't end up damaging your home.

Related: How to Clean Gutters While Staying Safe

Replace Caulk and Weatherstripping

Exterior caulking can last about a decade, so you may find all too quickly that your caulking looks cracked or is missing in spots. Missing caulk and weatherstripping can allow insects and other pests into your home, and create gaps where frigid air can enter your home, leading to cold drafts and higher energy bills.

Fortunately, this is an easy DIY project you can take on yourself that'll pay off in a warmer home and lower energy bills.

Related: The 10 Best Door Draft Stoppers

Check Pipe Insulation

Frozen pipes can lead to major damage in your home (not to mention a loss of water usage!). Pipes that run along exterior walls freeze first, since they are still exposed to frigid temperatures. Putting foam insulation around your pipes—or even heat tape for pipes that have a tendency to freeze—will help ensure the water is running.

Tips

If temps dip into the teens, let water trickle from faucets to help prevent the pipes from freezing. You want to ensure that you run warm or hot water—as hot water pipes tend to freeze before the cold water pipes.

Reverse Your Ceiling Fans

You may think of a ceiling fan for cooling your home, but running your ceiling fan during the winter ( with the blades turning clockwise ) can help push warmer air back down toward you, making your home more comfortable without racking up big energy bills.

Related: Why You Should Run Your Ceiling Fan This Winter

Swap Out Your Curtains

Trade in light sheers for velvet or other thicker curtain materials that can help block cold air coming in through your windows, reducing heat loss. Just keeping curtains closed overnight, and in rooms that don't receive much sunlight, can reduce heat loss by 10%, according to the Department of Energy .

Turn Off Water to Exterior Faucets

If you're in a location where temps regularly drop below freezing in the winter, you'll want to shut off water to any outdoor faucets to avoid a plumbing disaster. (If those pipes freeze, they could create a major leak inside or outside your home.)

Give Your Furnace a Checkup

Before you heat up your home, make sure that your furnace is in good working order, with fresh air filters as well. If you aren't handy, it's best to call in a heating and cooling pro to do the work for you.

Inspect Your Fireplace

If cozy nights around the fire are in your future, fall is the time to set yourself up for success. Open the flue and check your chimney for a buildup of creosote, a residue from burning wood that can limit airflow and is flammable. You'll want to contact a chimney pro to inspect the chimney and clean it properly.

Make Sure Your Shovel and Ice Melt Supply Is Set

Check over your shovels and replace any damaged ones—and make sure that you have plenty of ice melt to help keep your sidewalks and steps clear and safe.

Give Your Snowblower a Test Run

If you live somewhere with regular winter snowfalls, you don't want to find out that your snowblower won't start when you're facing several inches of fresh powder. You'll want to inspect it for any damage or wear ahead of the first storm, and change the oil and add new gas if you're using a gas-powered snowblower. Then, give it a quick start to make sure that everything's working well.

Check Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

You should be checking your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors whenever the time springs forward and falls back to ensure that you're protected. It's especially important to make sure your carbon monoxide detector is operational during the winter, as furnaces, fireplaces, and ovens can be common culprits for dangerous carbon monoxide levels in the home.

Make a Plan for a Power Outage

Losing power over the winter could cause your home to lose heat quickly—creating dangerous conditions for both you and your home. You'll want to have a plan of attack for safely navigating a power outage that lasts more than a few hours. A few things to prepare in case you might have an outage:

• Make sure that flashlights and other safe light sources are charged and ready to go.
• Wear lots of warm layers, and cuddle under blankets.
• Use draft stoppers, towels, or other heavy-duty fabrics to help insulate door gaps and windows.
• Open below-sink cabinets to allow heat to circulate around the pipes, and let water run at a trickle.
• If you're using generators to supply power, only run them outside the home.

Related: How to Keep Food Fresh and Safe During a Power Outage

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