Getting Ready For Winter Checklist

Getting Ready For Winter Checklist

Here in Minnesota (or some call it MinneSNOWta), November is a time to write the getting ready for winter checklist.  Here are 10 ways to prepare for winter not only in Minnesota, but also other areas that experience snow, cold weather, and everything to go with:

1. Furnace: The furnace pumps out warm air to keep people feeling cozy inside while the weather is cold, frigid, or downright dangerous cold outside.  This is why the furnace is number 1 on the getting ready for winter checklist.  Make sure to have a licensed professional give the furnace a thorough inspection to ensure the furnace starts, replace the filter, and perhaps a tune up with some new parts to keep the furnace doing it’s best at all times.
2. Chimney: A chimney is a great place for birds to build themselves a nest which will obstruct escaping air. If air is trapped, then the air will back up into the house causing various issues such as carbon monoxide build up.  Have a licensed professional inspect the chimney to be cleaned and ready for the furnace and/or fireplaces.
3. Windows: Old windows with broken seals, cracks, or rotten areas can cause air to leak. This will cause the house to be cold and drafty.  One way to help rectify this is to put a plastic over the windows to shield against the cold.  Check out hardware stores for such types of plastic.
4. Gutters: Autumn time can test out gutters! When leaves fall for gutters to catch, gutters get plugged up.  Snow comes along, melts then the gutters can’t catch the excess water which can lead to ice dams, gutters being too heavy, therefore breaking off, which can lead to a dangerous icy situation on the sidewalk.  If an ice dam does build up, NEVER try to use water- this will eventually refreeze which in return means a bigger problem has occurred.  A ladder on a dry surface in autumn to clean out gutters is much safer verses a ladder on an icy sidewalk in the winter battling with stubborn ice. 
5. Sidewalk: Speaking of sidewalks, many people have beautiful landscape centered around sidewalks. Another item on the getting ready for winter checklist should be trimming the landscape to provide a wide open area to walk, shovel the snow, and lessen tripping hazards.
6. Doorways: Spring, summer and fall sports can be a build up of various types of balls, uniforms, shoes, backpacks for school, trash to go outside… the list goes on forever of what people tend to set by doorways. Wintertime is especially important to keep these areas cleared.  For example, a door might get iced closed.  Having a space heater in the area could help get the door open.  Having flammable items such as clothes nearby a space heater is a recipe for disaster.  Plus being outside in the cold while wearing glasses then come inside.  What happens to the glasses?  The lenses fog over making visibility impossible.  Another reason to keep the doorways cleared!
7. Attic: If an attic is not well insulated before winter, it will surely be noticed during winter. Ever seen a home with huge carrot like icicles hanging from the gutters?  Part of the reason may be the attic lacks insulation.  Translation: heat is escaping from the house to the outside which then melts the snow creating huge icicles.  These icicles can hang down to the ground which can be very heavy with extremely sharp tips.  If one breaks, this could be quite dangerous if this happens to a nearby person (might hit someone in the head, icicle tips might pierce the skin, bits of ice are slippery, etc.)   
8. Emergency Kits: Winter is not the time to be caught off guard with no power. Have enough nonperishable foods, blankets, flashlights/batteries, and any other essentials you or your loved ones need to last a couple days.  Sometimes power can be out for a split second, sometimes it is out for days.  Whatever the case, a fierce blizzard, howling winds, and dangerous air temps are not reasons to just “tough it out”.
9. Generator: What if the power does go out for days? A generator will be helpful to try to keep the household living as it typically does.  Hardware stores would be the place to find a generator best fit for your house.  Read through the instructions on how to prepare the generator for use such as is it gas powered, on batteries, and how long can it be used continuously.
10. Snowblower/Shovels/Salt: A snowblower and shovels are tools most people don’t have too many questions about why to use them. But salt?  Why is salt on the getting ready for winter checklist?   Snow is a form of water, essentially a form of ice.  Salt will help melt ice to create a sidewalk and driveway that is safer for walking.  What’s fun is sprinkling salt onto ice then hearing the crackle of the ice breaking apart!  There are many forms of salt.  The table salt for eating will definitely melt ice, but this type of salt will also eat away at concrete.  The best type of salt is most times found in 30-60 pound bags at the front of stores.  For questions, read the directions on the bag or consult a store clerk for assistance.

Aside from being a lifelong Midwest resident and going through many getting ready for winter checklist, Rochelle is also a licensed REALTOR ® who can help buyers and sellers see how properties have been or will need to be more adequately prepared for Minnesota winters.   We at Reel Property Solutions, LLC have extensive education with Fortune Builders to have an eye for what issues need to be resolved, appropriate resources to help out and what costs might be associated.  For example, when is it necessary to replace verses tune up a furnace?

For further questions about this article of getting ready for winter checklist, please reach out to us at Reel Property Solutions, LLC which is brokered by eXp Realty.

Our contact information is:

507-218-8788 or info@reelpropertysolutionsllc.com 

507-358-0638 or rochelle.markov@exprealty.com

As always, CATCH A WINNER! No matter your situation, whatever the outcome should be a WIN-WIN for all involved.