Do you love snow? Vermonters are lucky to experience four beautiful seasons, including our beloved winter! While some use the winter months to hibernate under blankets next to their fireplaces, others are giddy to catch some powder on the slopes! It does not matter how you spend your winter months, but prepping your home for the cold season is a no-brainer! Here are a few tips to help you get ready for the cold!

Check Your Heaters

It may seem obvious, but sometimes we forget to test our heating systems when the weather is warmer, and the last thing you want is a system not performing on a blistering cold day. Furnaces, boilers, and chimneys should be serviced by a technician at least once a year to ensure proper function and safety. Fire up your system early, giving you time to repair it before the cold gets here!

Clear Your Gutters

Those darn leaves never seem to fall when or where you want them to! Let's face it cleaning your gutters is not fun, so taking care of them as the trees become bare is a great way to keep them clean all winter. If you clean your gutters too early in the Fall, leaves will pile up again leaving them prone to ice dams. You don't want leaks in your home, so safely clean your gutters right before the winter season starts.

Boost Your Efficiency

Energy bills are not cheap, and Vermont winters can get COLD! As things start to cool down, go through your house and look for drafty spaces where the cold is seeping in. Luckily in 2022, finding drafts is easy! Thermal leak detectors are affordable devices you can find at a local hardware store that will help you identify areas that need to be patched or better insulated. All those little areas can add up big in the winter so get a head start on them now!

Clear your Home's Exterior!

Once a blanket of snow comes down it can be hard to tell what is where in your yard! Using stakes to mark off your walkway and driveway will allow you to clear a safe path! In addition, Consider storing items like patio furniture, grills, and other outdoor appliances, as these can get damaged by heavy snowfall.  

Prep for Blizzard Conditions! 

It doesn't happen every year, but Vermont gets some powerful blizzards from time to time that can keep you locked up inside your home. Get some emergency supplies together and accessible. Your emergency kit should include flashlights, warm blankets, water in bottles, non-perishable food, batteries, a battery-operated radio, and any other items you need if you are stuck for a few days! Preparing before the weather report of a blizzard will ensure you have all the essentials you need in case things get extra snowy!

Test Your Detectors

As you prep your home to ward off the cold, make sure to give some attention to your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. These systems need to be inspected several times throughout the year, so now is the perfect time to inspect them! Ensure they have plenty of battery and so indeed fire up with the test. With windows and doors closed for the colder months, it's crucial to know your detectors are working as intended so you can feel safe!

Preserve Your Pipes

Temperatures regularly cross into the negatives posing a risk for frozen pipes! Pipes tend to freeze closer to the exterior of your home, and a single burst pipe can cause major challenges for homeowners. Should a pipe burst in your home, knowing where your main water shutoff valve is will help you minimize the damage done. Leaving faucets lightly running on those colder days can help to minimize the likelihood of your pipes freezing!

We hope these tips help you create a solid plan for your home's winterization needs, and we are always here to help if you have questions. Give us a call anytime at 802-735-2167 or email us at info@strongwillvt.com