Winter Is Coming: Home Projects Worth Tackling Before the First Snow

Believe it or not, winter is coming. Before we get our first snowfall of the season, there are a few things you should consider checking off your home maintenance list first.

From preparing your yard for freezing temperatures to organizing your garage and making sure your heating system is ready for the colder months, a little preparation now can save you time, money and headaches later. Before the snowflakes start falling, consider tackling these home projects.

Disconnect Your Garden Hoses

One of the easiest things to overlook when preparing your home for winter is your outdoor water supply. Before temperatures drop below freezing, disconnect your garden hoses, drain any remaining water and store them away until spring.

If your home has an interior shutoff valve for outdoor faucets, turn it off and drain the exterior line. Taking these steps can help prevent water from freezing inside your pipes, potentially causing costly damage.

Declutter Before the Holidays

The holidays are right around the corner, and with them often comes an influx of new toys, gifts, decorations and other belongings. Before you start bringing more items into your home, consider getting rid of things you no longer need.

Go through your closets, cabinets and storage spaces to see what you can donate, sell or throw away. Clothing you haven't worn in the past year, toys your children have outgrown and household items collecting dust are all great places to start. Donating gently used items to a local charity can also help someone else in your community, especially during the holiday season.

Give Your Yard One Last Cleanup

Before your lawn disappears under a blanket of snow, give it one last round of attention.

Clear out your flower beds, remove fallen leaves and trim your grass if needed. After all, there's something especially beautiful about freshly fallen snow covering a well-maintained yard. The last thing you want is to look outside and wish you could grab your lawn mower to take care of the long blades of grass poking through the snow.

Be mindful of which plants you trim, as some perennials benefit from being left alone until spring. It's also a good idea to clear leaves and debris from your gutters so melting snow can drain properly.

Make Room in Your Garage

If your garage has slowly turned into a storage space for everything except your vehicle, now is the perfect time to change that.

Take some time to organize tools, seasonal decorations, lawn equipment and anything else taking up valuable parking space.

Being able to park your car in the garage during the winter can save you from scraping ice off your windshield or brushing several inches of snow off your vehicle when you're already running late for work.

Plus, having an organized garage makes it easier to find what you need throughout the winter.

Stock Your Freezer and Pantry

There's nothing quite like being snowed in with a warm meal and nowhere you need to be. That is, unless you open your refrigerator and realize you have nothing to eat.

Before winter weather arrives, consider stocking your freezer and pantry with some of your household essentials.

Frozen vegetables, meats, soups, casseroles and other easy-to-prepare meals can be especially helpful when road conditions make a grocery store trip less than ideal.

Don't forget about pantry staples, bottled water and any other necessities your household may need during a winter storm. Having a few days' worth of essentials on hand can offer peace of mind when the forecast calls for heavy snow.

Get Your Snow Removal Supplies Ready

You probably haven't thought much about your snow shovel since last winter. But when the first snowfall arrives, you'll be glad you know exactly where it is.

Take some time to locate your snow shovel, ice scraper, snow brush and any other winter weather supplies. Make sure they're in good condition and easily accessible.

It's also a good idea to have ice melt ready for your driveway and walkways. Consider storing it in a covered, easy-to-access container with a scoop so you're not struggling to open a heavy bag in freezing temperatures. Be sure to choose a product that's appropriate for your surfaces and follow its instructions, especially if you have pets.

Don't forget to put an ice scraper and snow brush in your vehicle before you need them!

Winterize Your Lawn Mower

Your lawn mower has worked hard all summer, and now it's time to give it a well-deserved break.

Before putting it away for the season, clean off any grass clippings and debris, check the manufacturer's storage recommendations and take care of any necessary maintenance.

For gas-powered mowers, follow the manufacturer's guidance on draining the fuel or adding a fuel stabilizer. Gasoline can deteriorate during storage and cause problems with your mower's fuel system when spring arrives.

A little maintenance now can help ensure your mower is ready to go when the grass starts growing again.

Check Your Furnace and Replace Your Air Filter

As temperatures drop, your heating system is about to become one of the hardest-working appliances in your home.

Before you rely on it every day, replace your HVAC air filter if it's due for a change. A dirty filter can restrict airflow and make your system work harder than necessary.

Consider scheduling a professional furnace inspection, too. A technician can check for potential issues and make sure your heating system is operating safely and efficiently.

After all, the last thing you want is to discover your furnace isn't working properly on one of the coldest nights of the year.

Seal Gaps and Keep Unwanted Pests Outside

As the weather gets colder, you aren't the only one looking for a warm place to spend the winter. Insects and other pests may also try to find their way inside your home.

Take a walk around your house and inspect windows, doors and other exterior openings for gaps or damaged seals. Applying fresh caulk or replacing worn weatherstripping can help keep cold air and unwanted visitors outside.

It's also worth checking around your foundation for piles of leaves, brush or excess mulch. Moisture-loving pests, such as pill bugs, tend to gather in damp areas, so keeping debris away from your home can help make the space less inviting.

If you're noticing excess moisture indoors, a dehumidifier may also help. Addressing moisture issues and sealing entry points can go a long way toward keeping your home comfortable throughout the winter.

Test Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

With furnaces, fireplaces and other heating equipment getting more use during the winter, it's especially important to make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working properly.

Take a few minutes to test each alarm in your home and replace batteries as needed, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Check the expiration dates on your alarms, too. Smoke alarms generally need to be replaced every 10 years, while carbon monoxide alarm replacement schedules vary by model.

It's a simple task that can make a big difference in keeping your household safe.

A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way

Winter can be a wonderful time of year. From watching snowflakes fall outside your window to enjoying cozy evenings at home, there's plenty to look forward to as the temperatures drop.

By tackling a few home maintenance projects before the first snowfall, you can spend less time worrying about unexpected repairs and more time enjoying everything the season has to offer.

Want a home of your own to make memories in this winter? Reach out to a Ruoff Mortgage loan officer today to get started on your homeownership journey.

Ruoff Mortgage Company, Inc., d/b/a Ruoff Mortgage, is an Indiana corporation. For complete licensing information visit https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/COMPANY/141868. This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend. All loans must satisfy company underwriting guidelines. Information and interest rate are subject to change at any time and without notice. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS#141868.