The 4 Seasons of Home Ownership is Today’s Homeowner’s exclusive guide to easy home maintenance. We break down the most important chores into simple task lists for the spring, summer, fall and winter.
In the winter, here are some of those chores:
Change heating system filters. The most wonderful time of the year shouldn’t be the most miserable in your home because it’s so cold! Change your filters and get a professional furnace inspection to make sure the system is ready for increased demand.
Clean the kitchen range hood filter. Your range hood removes airborne grease, fumes and smoke after cooking, boosting indoor air quality. But it’s only as effective as its filter. Before a big holiday dinner, remove the filter and clean it.
Clean all baseboard heaters. If you have a baseboard heating system, you know it’s a magnet for dust, pet dander and hair, among other things. Clean it once a year to keep the system in peak performance.
Change your refrigerator’s water and icemaker filters. If you’ve left the same filter in the fridge long after the ‘new filter’ light or indicator popped on, now’s the time to change it to reduce the chance of water quality issues affecting yours or your guests’ health.
Prepare your snowblower. A well-maintained snowblower gets the job done. So make sure your winter home maintenance plan includes thoroughly cleaning yours. You’ll also want to oil it so the machine is ready when needed.
Get the gear. You’ll need the right equipment and materials — including snow shovels and ice melt — to remove ice and snow from driveways, walkways and stairs. Stock up now and you won’t have to worry about these products being sold out later.
Inspect washing machine hoses. Throughout the year, your washing machine takes a lot of wear and tear. Check the hoses for damage or leaks and replace them as needed.
Insulate water lines and hose bibs. No one wants burst pipes and the great expense that comes with them. If you have a crawlspace, wrap foam pipe insulation around water lines. Then secure foam covers over hose bibs to protect from freezing temperatures.
Set ceiling fans to rotate clockwise. Make sure they’re set to the lowest setting, too, so they won’t create a draft but will send hot air from the ceiling to the room’s perimeter. This will make the space feel warmer.
Prepare your generator. A snowstorm can quickly lead to damaged power lines and lengthy outages. Make sure your portable or standby generator is ready for use in case you need it.
Listen to our special podcast on winter home maintenance for more information!
