A few weeks ago, my dad informed me that he could finally turn off the air conditioning in Florida. For us northerners, winter has arrived a little earlier than expected compared to previous years. The other day, we had to defrost the ice from our windshields, and lately, the heat’s been running throughout the night. For homeowners, the late fall means different things. It could mean getting ready to welcome families for the holidays, preparing for weekend getaways on the slopes, or planning hibernation. Whatever the reason, we can use these upcoming weekends to get ahead of the winter folly before our time is occupied.

Here are 8 simple tasks to prepare for winter:

1) Sealing Window and Door Drafts

If your house is like mine and drafty in the winter, the cause could be older windows and doors. My windows aren’t getting replaced anytime soon, so they require a little TLC. Inspecting the windows both inside and out and sealing any gaps can make a huge difference in your home’s ability to retain heat.

Many experts recommend checking for drafts using a few tried and true methods. My preferred technique is the smoke test. Take an incense stick, since it’ll burn longer without the need to re-light, and move the stick around the outside of any window or door. Check to see if and where the smoke blows in. If it does, you’ll need to seal that gap.

Also check the caulk on the outside of the windows. Worn caulk will need to be stripped and replaced.

Interior gaps can be filled with caulk, weather stripping, or insulation foam, depending on the location and the size. In the past, I’ve even purchased the plastic sheets that cover the windows. They were easy to install and did prevent cold air from trickling in.

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/insulation/21017161/how-to-seal-windows-for-winter

2) Clearing Roof, Gutters, and Downspouts

We had a ton of rain in recent weeks. Plus a nor’easter. Though we didn’t get as many tropical storms or hurricanes this season, intense wind and rain can still cause damage to the home’s exterior. Some areas are difficult to spot at a glance. Checking the roof for any lifted shingles and the soffits and fascia for anything out of place after a heavy storm is a must. Clogged gutters and downspouts can lead to water intrusion or ice buildup, which could penetrate beneath the roof sheathing or cause cracked downspouts.

If your home has trees in close proximity, the leaves have likely fallen into gutters and become wedged in the downspouts. If possible, and not too high, use a ladder with help to remove the leaves and debris. If high ladders create anxiety, hire a professional. They’re fast, largely inexpensive, and will save you the stress.

https://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-clean-gutters/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90ce752a5b

3) Tree Pruning

Wind and heavy snow will blow down limbs and branches. If it looks like it may fall on the house or anywhere nearby, go ahead and clip them. Raising the deck (my dad’s favorite pastime) and inspecting suspecting limbs will prevent any damage later when those limbs and branches drop.

https://extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/fnr/fnr-506-w.pdf

4) Repairing Hardscapes

In PA, extreme conditions form a tremendous amount of potholes throughout the winter. And many of them don’t get fixed, leaving craters on well-traveled roads. The same type of damage can affect sidewalks, driveways, steps, porches, and patios. Most local hardware stores provide a number of options for sealing all types of cracks in concreate and asphalt. Many of the products can be used and cured within hours. But it’s best to take care of them now before the next freeze, otherwise later those small cracks will turn into larger ones, and the large gaps will become craters. It’s those craters that roll ankles and lead to unnecessary trips to the ER.

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/masonry/21016504/fixing-cracks-in-concrete

5) Maintaining the Heating System

One of the most important mechanical devices in the home, the heating and air conditioning systems play a major role in temperature regulation, but in the winter it also keeps everyone in the home safe. If you haven’t already, schedule a professional to inspect the system to ensure it’s running properly. For forced air systems, change the filters every season. For an oil delivery system, check to make sure you have fuel in the tank. You don’t want to run out (happened to me two years ago) or discover a faulty gauge (happened to a friend of mine) after the system stops working even though the tank still says it’s half-full. Losing heat for a short-time in the late fall isn’t terrible, but losing heat in January when the professionals are slammed means it could take days until an issue can be resolved.

6) Inspecting the Fireplace and Chimney

I love a good fire. There’s something pleasing about natural warmth that fills the entire house (and saves on oil use). If you plan on running the fireplace often, have a professional check to make sure everything is clean and operational.

Like the HVAC system, you don’t want to wait until there’s a problem before realizing there’s a problem. Whereas a heating system breaking down leaves the home without heat, a buildup of creosote in the fireplace or chimney could lead to something worse, so eliminate the worry and have peace of mind all winter.

https://blog.smarttouchenergy.com/heating-system-inspection-checklist

7) Cleaning the Oven

Now that the grills are put away, the oven will be doing a lot more work over these next few months. Turkeys, pies, roasts, cookies, and many other delicious holiday meals and treats. Now is a good time for a power clean. Some ovens have a self-clean function that takes several hours and burns off all the build-up. Other ovens can be cleaned easily with specific products and a little elbow grease. It also might be a good project to delegate to the teenagers in your household.

8) Preparing for Outages and Snow Removal

In my old neighborhood, I could count on 3-4 solid power outages a winter. Several Christmases ago, I bailed water out of my sump pump for hours on Christmas Eve during a power outage and bought Chinese take-out just like in The Christmas Story. We’ve had some mild winters by our standards in terms of deep freezes and snow accumulations. This year, I don’t think we’ll be as lucky. Preparing for outages can be a lifesaving and/or time saving task down the road. Throwing out multiple refrigerator/freezers full of food is not a fun activity.

Have an emergency kit ready with flashlights, batteries, even rations if necessary. Check to make sure the sump pump is working and install a battery back-up if your house is prone to outages. If affordable, this could be the year to look into a generator.

There may some additional odds and ends to deal with depending on the nuances of each home, but once the items above are checked off, you’ll have more time to enjoy the festive season with fewer worries.