Categories: Blog | Tips & Trends
Is Your Home Ready for Winter? A Fall Maintenance Checklist for Homeowners
Idaho winters do not ease in gently. One week it is fall and the next week the temperatures have dropped and the ground is starting to freeze. A little attention to your home now goes a long way toward avoiding costly surprises when winter arrives.
Here is a simple checklist to work through before the cold sets in.
Irrigation and Sprinklers
As temperatures cool your lawn and landscaping need significantly less water than they did during the summer months. Adjust your irrigation timer now to reduce frequency and duration, and stop watering altogether once overnight temperatures consistently fall below freezing.
If your home is connected to a pressurized irrigation system, as most of our communities are, you will likely want to wait until the irrigation district shuts off the water for the season before scheduling your sprinkler blowout. Most homeowners prefer to keep watering as long as possible before winterizing. Once the irrigation water is shut off for the season schedule your blowout as soon as possible. Getting it done before temperatures drop protects your lines from freezing and cracking over winter.
Not sure how to adjust your controller? The video below walks you through the general steps for adjusting your irrigation system. Your specific model may look a little different, but the concepts apply to most residential systems. You can also look up your exact model on the manufacturer's website for instructions specific to your controller.
How to Adjust Your Sprinkler System - Rainbird
Gutters and Downspouts
Clean your gutters of leaves and debris before winter arrives. A buildup of debris can cause water to back up and create damage along your roofline and exterior.
Your home was built with downspouts designed to direct water away from the foundation. Make sure they stay clear of debris and have not been shifted or blocked after you've done any landscaping work around your home.
Foundation Vents
Close your foundation vents before winter sets in. This helps keep the cold air out of your crawl space and protects your pipes from freezing during Idaho's colder months.
Pipes and Plumbing
Disconnect and drain your garden hoses before temperatures drop. A hose left connected can cause water to back up into the faucet and freeze which can damage the pipe inside your home.
Heating System
Before you turn on the heat for the season, replace your furnace filter. A clean filter keeps your system running efficiently and protects your air quality through the winter months.
It is also worth having your furnace professionally inspected before the cold arrives. Make sure all vents are clear and unobstructed and check that nothing has been stored in front of or on top of any vents throughout your home.
One easy and often overlooked tip: reverse your ceiling fan to run clockwise in the winter. This pushes the warm air that collects near the ceiling back down into the room and helps your furnace work more efficiently.
Looking for a trusted HVAC professional in our area? Green's Heating and Air is our preferred vendor. Here is a link to their website.
Safety
Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace the batteries before winter. This is especially important as heating systems start running more frequently and homes are sealed up against the cold.
Also check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher and replace it if needed.
Questions?
If you have any questions about your home heading into winter do not hesitate to reach out. We are always happy to help, and so are the trusted service providers on our preferred vendor list.
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We have move-in ready homes available now across our communities in Fruitland, Emmett, Weiser, and Payette. No waiting, no guessing. Just a finished home ready for you to make yours.
Or if you have questions about building with us our team is easy to reach and happy to talk through your options with no pressure.
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