Simple Ways to Prepare Your House for Winter

Winter has a way of sneaking up. One day you’re raking leaves, and the next you are scraping ice off your windshield before work.

A little preparation can go a long way. It can save you from dealing with drafts, frozen pipes and missing snow shovels later. Here are a few simple jobs you can knock out before the temperature drops.

Leaves and debris can stop water from draining properly. Clear your gutters before everything freezes, and check that the downspouts are open.

The Toro Universal Gutter Cleaning Kit connects to most battery-powered, electric and gas handheld leaf blowers. Its four extension tubes provide up to 11 feet of reach, letting you clear many one-story gutters while staying on the ground.

Check that the included connection collar fits your blower before buying. Wear eye protection, keep people away from falling debris and follow the instructions supplied with the kit.

Walk around the house and feel for cold air near windows and exterior doors. Small gaps can often be sealed with weatherstripping or the correct type of caulk.

The Newborn Brothers 101 10-Ounce Smooth-Rod Caulk Dispenser is a straightforward option for applying sealant around the house. It accepts standard 10-ounce cartridges and features a thumb-operated pressure release for better control.

Caulk is sold separately, so choose an exterior-grade product that is compatible with the surface and current temperature. Always follow the instructions on the sealant.

Changing the furnace filter sucks, but winter is a bad time to forget about it.

Pull out the current filter, note the dimensions and replace it with the correct size and type recommended for your system. Acme Tools carries a selection of furnace filters in different sizes.

This is also a good time to schedule professional service for your heating system if it is due. Fuel-burning furnaces, fireplaces, chimneys and vents should be inspected and maintained properly.

This is an easy one. Remove garden hoses from outdoor faucets before freezing weather arrives. Drain the hoses and store them somewhere protected.

If your home has an interior shutoff valve for the outdoor faucet, close it and drain the line according to your home’s setup. Consider an insulated faucet cover for additional protection.

Heating season makes working alarms especially important. Press the test button on every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm and replace batteries or expired units as required by the manufacturer.

If you need replacements, the First Alert Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm Two-Pack has two battery-powered alarms with an 85-decibel warning. Follow the included placement instructions and your local requirements.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends testing smoke and CO alarms monthly. It also advises keeping snow clear of exterior vents for fuel-burning appliances.

Do not wait until the first storm to find out your shovel is cracked.

The True Temper 18-Inch Snow Shovel is gets the job done when it comes to sidewalks, steps and smaller driveways. A pair of Hand Armor Winter Work Gloves can also help keep your hands warm when working outside.

Store your shovel, gloves and ice melt somewhere easy to reach. You do not want them buried in the back of the garage when six inches of snow is sitting outside the door.

Preparing your house for winter should not need to take an entire weekend. Clean the gutters, seal obvious drafts, check the furnace filter, disconnect the hoses, test your alarms and put the snow gear somewhere accessible.

A few small jobs now can make the first cold snap much easier to handle.