Fall, the magnificent season of colours and comforting meals, is back, much to our delight. Bring on the pumpkin spice lattes, apple picking and perfect temperatures! However, if the latest weather forecasts are to be believed, winter will be long and cold. Fortunately, October is the perfect month to prepare for the chilly weather by making sure your house and yard are ready to face the winter months. Here is a short step-by-step guide to make sure everything is good to go, inside and out.
Walk around the house
Start with your doors and windows, paying special attention to window sills and door weatherstripping. If some of the edges look dried out or cracked, take the time to redo the seals with a small tube of caulking. You will keep cold drafts out of your home while lowering your electricity bill.
Continue your tour of the house by inspecting the foundation and walls. If you notice cracks, specialized products are available on the market to fill them and protect your home from water infiltration. Also move away any firewood that was stored near your house during the summer. That environment is the favourite habitat of carpenter ants and field mice, little visitors we could all do without!
Next, move on to your watering equipment. Irrigation systems and garden hoses must all be bled and completely drained of water to avoid freezing and being damaged over the winter. To do this, use a compressor to blow air through the lines and empty them completely.
If applicable, also make sure to winterize your pool. Shut down and store the pump, drain your pool to a third of its capacity and add the required amount of antifreeze. If needed, cover it with a tarp to catch the leaves, which will make things easier when you open it next spring.
Now put away all your summer equipment, such as the patio table and chairs, umbrella and seasonal decorations. Store what you can in a shed or garage, and be sure to properly cover anything that has to stay outside with a tarp that is large and sturdy enough.
Finally, take a quick trip to the garden to cut back all your annuals for next season. Plant some flower bulbs as well, and take care to cover small trees and shrubs that could be battered by snow and freezing rain.
Back inside
Once inside, a few items also deserve your attention, starting with the chimney. Before firing up the fireplace for another winter season, be sure to have it swept by a professional. In doing so, they will eliminate any risk of fire and potential bad odours.
Check every air intake and exhaust grille on your house, which could also be an easy entry point for little field mice seeking warmth. The range hood, dryer vent, fans and central vacuum are among the elements that provide easy access to the inside of your home. Replace any damaged or broken grilles as needed. Also take advantage of your inspection to clean and empty the various ducts to make sure air will flow well all winter long.
And because you can never be too prepared, take advantage of the time change on the first Sunday of November to replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and make sure they are working properly.
