Here in the Midwest, the mornings are starting out a bit nippy. Hovering in the low 30s makes for lively stepping across hardwood floors at dawn’s early light. Although not necessarily “gentle,” the falling temperatures are a reminder that it’s time to get the house ready for winter.

Here are a few tips for winterizing your home:

1. Have a furnace inspection - No matter the age or type, having your furnace inspected by a professional can save you headaches farther into the season, when the temperatures are apt to dip well below freezing.
2. Inspect your fireplace - Having your chimney cleaned and inspected should ensure safe usage throughout the winter months.
3. Drain outdoor spigots - Detach and store all outdoor garden hoses.  Drain water from spigots and shut them off from indoors.
4. Check exterior doors and windows - Check for drafts and caulk or weatherstrip any openings to prevent heat loss.
5. Clean out gutters - Fall leaves and twigs can clog gutters. Clearing gutters of debris keeps rainwater diverted away from the house and reduces possible damage to your house and the gutters.

Taking these few steps could help to ensure that your home will be warm, comfortable and safe this winter.

TALK BACK: Do you have any other home winterizing tips? Post your comments below.

Posted by Sharon Walker

Tags: preparing home for winter, winterizing house

This entry was posted on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 6:00 am and is filed under Homeowner Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.