Preparing Your Home for Winter

Does your home have “curb appeal?” October is a great time to stand on the curb and check out the condition of your house.  Are the spiders taking over the front porch? Does it need painted around the windows to keep the moisture out? Are there loose shingles? Is the sidewalk cracked? Are the gutters filled with leaves and debris?

For many of us, the place we call home is our biggest financial investment. Just like people it needs to be cared for. The things you do each month can help to keep your home in good condition over time.  Use the UGA Extension Home Maintenance Checklist every Spring and Fall to keep your home in working order. Below are some tips to maintaining your home.

Remove leaves from roof and gutters. Clean eaves with mixture of 4 gallons water + 1/4 cup laundry soap,

 

Clean and remove peeling paint around windows before painting. Paint will help to keep moisture from rotting your window frames.

 

Clean vinyl siding with mixture of 1 gallon H2O + 1 cup oxygen bleach. This mixture should not harm most landscape plantings. If in doubt, try it out.  Remove ivy and other vines growing up the walls.

 

Remove cobwebs, clean light fixtures & replace bulb with energy saving light.  Find one @ www.energystar.gov

 

Remove wasp tunnels and replace bulb with energy saving light. (www.energystar.gov)

 

Repair cracked and broken walkways.  Investigate to determine if there are drainage issues that need to be fixed before making repairs.

 

Around the nation, Cooperative Extension Agents offer a variety of educational programs and information that can help you protect your home.  You can find information on a variety of housing issues, including managing mold, smart budgeting, home maintenance, green cleaning, testing for radon, and preparing your home for the winter.  If you live in Georgia, go to http://www.gafamilies.org or call 1-800-ASK-UGA1 for more information.  If you live in another state find your nearest Cooperative Extension Office.

Enjoy the beauty of the Autumn.

About Pamela Turner

I am a Professor and Extension Housing & Environment Specialist at the University of Georgia. I have a passion for helping people improve their home environment and live greener and healthier lives. An important part of that is helping people weed through all of the information to find trustworthy sources. www.gafamilies.org/home

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