What can you do to prepare your home for winter? A winter preparedness checklist.

It’s getting darker earlier and evenings are cooler. We are heading into the fall season. Below is a checklist of things you can do to get your home ready for winter:

1. Service Weather-Specific Equipment

• Drain gas from lawnmowers.
• Service or tune-up snow blowers.
• Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.
• Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.
• Buy bags of ice melt and sand.

2. Check Foundations

• Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.
• Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling inside the house.
• Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.
• Secure crawlspace entrances.

3. Prevent Plumbing Freezes

• Locate your water main in case you need to shut it off in an emergency.
• Disconnect and drain outside garden hoses
• Shut off valves that connect water to outside faucets.
• Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
• Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.
• If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.

4. Prepare an Emergency Kit

• Buy indoor candles and matches or lighter for use during a power shortage.
• Find the phone numbers for your utility companies and tape them near your phone.
• Buy a battery backup for your phone and to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment.
• Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies.
• Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.
• Check out “Build A Kit” from Ready.gov.

5. Prepare Landscaping and Outdoor Surfaces

• Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.
• Ask a gardener when your trees should be pruned to prevent winter injury.
• Plant spring flower bulbs and lift bulbs that cannot winter over.
• Seal driveways, brick patios, and wood decks.
• Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.
• Move your grill and clay pots inside. If clay pots are left out over the winter they will crack.

Kendall Richards

Kendall was president of All Comfort Services for 18 years and retired in 2023. “My best experience here is working as a team to serve customers by responding to their requests along with our team,” says Kendall. “I believe in servant leadership, and I am responsible for every team member and every customer.” He says, “Great customers make the daily demands of running a fast-paced business easy. It’s rewarding when a customer shows us they appreciate the extraordinary effort we put forth.”