Winter can be wonderful but it can also be a very stressful time for your family, your home, and your budget. Extreme temperatures, snow, ice, and especially salt can put everything, and everyone, to the test. Preparing makes perfect sense but, for that, you need a checklist.

Lucky for you, NSA Storage put together the handy winter prep checklist, below, with tips about what to do around the house before the cold sets in! If you’re looking to save money on utilities, keep your family comfy, and prevent damage to your home this winter, read on. 

Why Prepping Your Home for Winter is Important

Your home is probably you biggest financial investment as well as the roof over you head, making it top priority to keep it in great condition. That makes prepping a must as winter approaches.

Not only will prepping for winter help keep your family comfortable and safe, it will save you money on your energy bills. Prepping your home also prevents costly repairs to, for example, the roof, frame, and foundation. Lastly, it makes the change from winter to spring easier and faster next season. In short, prepping your home for winter:

• Lowers your energy costs
• Prevents damage to your home
• Extends the lifespan of large home appliances like your HVAC
• Prevents stressful situations like having no heat or water pipes busting when the temperatures drop below freezing

Outdoor Winter Prep Checklist

With cold weather weeks, or days, away, starting outside makes sense. That’s especially true for chores that involve water, so that it doesn’t freeze. Here are the most important chores and tasks to prep your outdoor space for winter:

Check Your Roof

Your home’s roof is the primary source of protection for your and your family. Making sure it’s ready to do its job all winter is a must, including:

• Check for any cracked or missing shingles and replace them
• Clear debris like twigs, leaves, and anything else off your roof
• If you see any gaps, use caulk to seal them

Inspect Your Siding

After your roof, your home’s siding is its next best barrier against extreme temps and wicked weather. Before winter begins, be sure to:

• Check for missing or cracked siding
• Replace any missing pieces
• Seal any cracks with caulk

Clean All Gutters

Clogged gutters can freeze and cause dangerous ice dams as well as damage your roof. Cleaning them thoroughly is a must before winter sets in, including the following:

• Clean all gutters and downspouts
• Check downspout outlets to make sure water is being led away from the foundation
• If it’s in your budget, consider gutter guards to prevent clogs next year

Store and Protect Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor furniture should be stored indoors if possible, preferably where it’s dry and dark. If you don’t have the storage space, here are a few tips to keep your outdoor furniture in good condition:

• Clean everything well and let it dry completely
• Cover with a waterproof tarp and use bungee cords to keep the tarp in place.
• Store under an overhang and off of the ground so that your furniture isn’t in standing water.
• Spray metal parts with lubricant to keep them from rusting and make them easier to use again next year.
• Rent a storage unit for your furniture and other summer stuff

Drain and Store Hoses

Wrestling frozen hoses in January is no fun for anyone. To avoid it, be sure to:

• Disconnect all hoses from outdoor faucets
• Drain each hose completely 
• Wrap the hoses and store them in a dry place out of the sun

Indoor Winter Prep Checklist

After you’ve prepped outdoors, indoor preparation should be your next task. That way, when the temperatures drop off a cliff, your home will be fuel-efficient while your family is safe and warm.

Have Your HVAC or Heating System Serviced

The worst time to find out your HVAC or heating system needs to be replaced is when it’s freezing outside! Instead of that family disaster, be sure to:

• Schedule an inspection and, if needed, HVAC cleaning
• Test and replace your thermostat’s batteries
• Have your chimney cleaned if you plan to use your fireplace
• Replace the air filter. (Buy a couple of extras to replace it again in 1 to 2 months.)

Seal Any Drafts Around Doors and Windows

Warming air inside just to let it escape outside is bad for your budget. Better to seal any drafts around doors and windows and keep that heated air in the house! To do that, you should:

• Apply caulk to any small gaps between windows and frames
• Use quality weather stripping to seal large gaps
• Add a door sweep to any doors that lead outside

Check and Improve Insulation in the Attic

Your attic can lose a lot of your home’s heat if it isn’t insulated well, wasting your money and raising your utility bills. Before the temperature drops, be sure to:

• Check if there are any spots where the insulation could be added or improved
• Add insulation over your ceilings
• If you’re not sure, have an insulation expert check your attic and give you their recommendations

Reverse the Direction of Ceiling Fans

This easy step will help push warm air down from the ceiling while lifting colder air upward. That not only improves circulation but can lower your heating bill substantially.

Test Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

You’ll be spending a lot more time indoors so be sure your detectors are all in working condition with fresh batteries. 

Winter Storage Tips

These last winter prep tips are for storing things you won’t need again until next year.

• Clean everything well and let it dry completely before storing.
• Label every box or plastic bin to find things later
• Optimize your garage or shed with storage accessories like bicycle hooks and rafter storage racks

Store this Winter with NSA Storage

Winter in many parts of the United States is cold, long, and harsh. We hope the winter prep checklist provided today will help make your winter experience one that’s cozy, warm, and wonderful. If you need extra storage this winter, NSA Storage can help. Reserve one of our safe, secure storage units online! Do it now before winter gets the drop on you!