The Essential Guide to Winter Home Maintenance
If there’s anything we learned about the severe winter storm that hit America in December, it’s that there is absolutely no excuse to leave your house to the mercy of the elements.
While winter preps may appear tedious – clearing leaves from gutters, weatherizing the home – it’s crucial to maintain your property. Given its value and importance, the home maintenance tasks you undertake for winter are worth the effort. Like people, houses have different needs as the seasons change, and staying on top of things will minimize significant problems and repairs down the line.
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What to expect: Winters in Ashland, OR
If you live in Ashland, Oregon, be aware that in addition to being an idyllic community, it also lies within Oregon’s southwest interior climate zone, where all but the higher-elevation sites are in the rain shadow of the Oregon Coast Range to the west.
While Ashland summers are known to be short, hot, dry, and mostly clear, winters can get frigid. Throughout the year, the temperature typically varies between 30 to 91 degrees. In December, which is the coolest month, temperatures have plummeted to 8.7 degrees.
The coldest recorded temperature in Ashland was minus 4 degrees, which occurred on December 9, 1972. In recent years, the coldest days happened on December 8 and 9, 2013 (minus 3 degrees) and December 10, 2013 (minus 1 degree),
As climate change has become a fact of life, such extreme temperatures can become increasingly frequent.
Winter home maintenance tips
Thus, sticking to a consistent home maintenance schedule is vital to upkeep. We compiled this winter home maintenance checklist to help you conduct and tick off seasonal updates, repairs, cleaning, and so on. Regular routine check-ups on the structure of your home and its exterior, appliances, heating and cooling, plumbing, and security and electrical systems help prevent breakdowns, effectively saving time and money. However, if there are home repairs and maintenance that go beyond your skills or require a more technical eye, consider hiring a professional to help.
6 winter home maintenance tips:
- Reduce energy use
- Buying window insulation kits. These kits include insulating shrink film to reduce cold air and drafts. They’re readily available in hardware stores. Also, consider insulating garage doors to further minimize heat loss.
- Invest in a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats are linked to apps that automatically manage and control your home’s temperature. This is particularly useful when you’re away. You can reduce your heating when the house is empty and remotely raise the setting about a half hour before you get home. Energy.gov estimates that smart thermostats save users around 10% yearly on their heating and cooling bills.
- Reverse your ceiling fans. This has got to be the easiest item on this winter home maintenance checklist. As hot air rises, reversing the spin of your ceiling fan during cooler months pushes warm air down to you. This also prevents ice dams, which happen when the warm air in the attic melts the snow on your roof, creating pools that turn into ice and damage your roof.
- Protect the deck
- Clean the fireplace/chimney
- Clean out gutters
- Maintain water pipes
- Don’t forget the small stuff
- Cover your air-conditioning unit.
- Check the basement for leaks during thaws.
- Inspect the roof, gutters, and downspouts for damage after storms.
- Vacuum bathroom exhaust fan grill.
- Vacuum refrigerator and freezer coils and empty and clean drip trays.
- Clean drains in sinks, tubs, showers, and dishwashers.
- Drain your broiler to clear out accumulated sediment.
- Schedule a bi-annual heat and air check-up and servicing.
- Check that your sump pump is draining correctly.
- Check your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Clean and cover outdoor furniture.
- Deep clean the stove, range hood, and refrigerator.
- Inspect caulking in bathrooms.
- Insulate your rim joist.
- Store patio furniture in the garage or garden shed.
- Inspect your fire extinguisher.
- Place screens over intake vents to prevent rodents from entering your warm home.
- Seal up decks, patios, and wood surfaces exposed to the elements.
Heating bills are a sizable expense for those living in colder areas. Luckily, there are a few ways to maximize warm air and save money.
Some winter tips to reduce energy usage include:
Inspect your wood deck or porch every so often, especially if it’s been raining. If you see raindrops being absorbed, you may need to add another coat of stain. This is ideally done during late fall, in time for home maintenance for winter. Re-apply stain when the weather is nice because the stain should sit undisturbed for at least 48 hours. After staining, thoroughly clean the wooden surface, preferably with a power washer, then seal it.
Avoid having smoke enter the home by regularly cleaning the fireplace and changing furnace filters. Chimneys are subject to soot build-up or are blocked by a bird’s nest on the chimney top. Cleaning your fireplace and chimney is essential to safety and energy conservation. Cleaning the furnace filter removes dust build-up and helps regulate your home’s temperature, thus reducing energy bills.
Check your gutters regularly, especially if you have trees close to your home. Leaves and debris clog up your gutters. Using a small rake is the easiest way to comb the leaves out of the gutter. You can also hire a professional to do the job. If you skip this task, be prepared for flooding around your exterior causing damage to your siding and foundation.
When pipes are exposed to cold air, they can burst and result in significant water damage to your home. If you’re leaving the house, set your thermostat at 55 degrees and open up any cabinetry with plumbing so it can still get warm airflow. Also, you can add some insulation to your pipes.
Aside from frozen pipes, below-freezing temperatures can also damage your roof.
As you tackle the major to-dos, don’t overlook the following smaller home maintenance for winter tasks:
You can do plenty of things to protect yourself and your home from the effects of a harsh winter. Weatherproofing, preventive maintenance, and taking care of the small stuff can minimize stress, unwanted accidents, and home repair costs to make your winter season more enjoyable.
Preparing for winter storms
Staying warm and safe during frigid weather or winter storms can be challenging. Prepare for the possibility of power failure, loss of internet connection, and icy sidewalks so you can keep you and your loved ones safe.
Here are some things to undertake in addition to the winter preparations outlined above.
- Prepare emergency kits
- Shovels. If you keep a shovel in your shed, either retrieve it and keep it on the porch or deck or get a spare that’s easily accessible.
- Large salt bags. Have large bags of salt on hand and prepare a bucket and scoop for your porch to make lugging salt much easier.
- Emergency lights and portable radio. Emergency spotlights, flashlights, and candles (with protectors and stands) are essential when the lights go out. Have batteries for the flashlight, and ensure emergency lights are powered. Consider solar-powered or hand-crank radios, so you don’t have to worry about batteries.
- Other essentials. Stock up and prepare the following items:
- Bottled water
- Canned goods
- Blankets
- First aid kit
- Portable charger or power bank for your cellphone
- Things to keep you warm, such as extra hats, coats, mittens, and blankets
- Windshield scraper
- Portable shovel
- Radio with extra batteries
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Water and snacks
- First aid kit with any necessary medications
- Pocket knife
- Tire, tow chains, or tire chains
- Cat litter or sand for tire traction
- Booster/ jumper cables
- Bright-colored flags or emergency signs
- Road maps should you lose your phone signal
- Waterproof matches and a can to melt snow for water
- Make an emergency plan
- Stock up on supplies
Disaster happens when you least expect it. Following that first snowfall, blizzards and snowstorms can sneak up on us. Be prepared by making sure your home and car emergency kits are complete and within reach. Winter preps are an excellent time to check your expiration dates, replenish perishable goods, and replace batteries. If you’ve got homes in Ashland, OR and other areas with harsher winters, your emergency supply winter checklist should include the following:
Before you drive out, check that the following emergency items are in your car in case you find yourself stranded:
By preparing and having a unified emergency plan, you and your family know what to do and where to go. For those living in more remote locations, create a communication and disaster plan for your family ahead of time. This should include protocols, safe spaces to go, and phone trees, at the very least.
It’s important to have enough food and water to last you through a storm without having to travel and purchase supplies. Your pantry should include many non-perishable items that minimize spoilage. As a general rule of thumb, aim to have enough food for at least three days. Items to include in your stock are crackers, granola bars, canned goods, soups, hot cocoa and instant coffee, peanut butter, honey, bread, and grains (such as barley, rice or oats). Fruits that don’t need to be refrigerated are best, such as oranges, apples or bananas.
If you have pets, don’t forget to pick up extra bags of kibble for them too.
Cozy up your surroundings
If the weather outside is frightful, there are several things you can do to make your home delightful. This doesn’t have to cost a lot. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- Enhance the fireplace
- Update accessories
- Use comforting scents
- Add texture
Fireplaces are often a central point of a home, more so during winter. Adding new fireplace accessories beautifies the hearth. You can also scrub the soot off the bricks and update your mantle accessories. Check your smoke detectors before you start a fire.
Once you’ve retired your festive ornaments, reset the mood of the home by changing decor and accessories. Adding slipcovers and replacing throw pillows can bring instantaneous lift. Look for winter-friendly plants you can bring indoors.
Aromatherapy is one of the most underappreciated and underrated interior décor elements. Smells impact our minds and mood just as much as physical décor. If you don’t enjoy strong scents, opt for classic lavender or clean linen to give the home a fresh feeling. For those looking for an earthy feel, sandalwood is the scent.
Layer rugs. Drape a blanket over the sofa. Replace a modern coffee table with a vintage ottoman. Create calming vignettes on side tables or consoles. Stack a few cookbooks on the kitchen island. Scatter a variety of table lamps, stand lamps, track lights, and reading lamps so you can adjust the mood of the house as you please.
Trust the expert: Ashland Homes Real Estate Inc
If you’re looking for homes in Ashland, OR, look no further than Ashland Homes Real Estate. As a leading real estate firm, Ashland Homes Real Estate, Inc. helps customers buy and sell real estate in southwestern Oregon. We can help you find what you’re looking for – whether it’s a starter home, a luxury property, a lot to build your custom home, or buyers to purchase your home for sale at maximum value.
We have over four decades of real estate experience, with an established network that can help you achieve your real estate goals. Working for an independent boutique firm has given our agents a wealth of local knowledge, established their expertise, and nurtured a deep and extensive network in the local community. As you embark on your real estate journey, we’ll be with you every step of the way.
We specialize in everything from suburban homes to rural properties, and we have properties to suit nearly any budget. Call 800.334.7499 or contact us today to discuss your real estate goals and interests.