DIY: WINTERIZE
September 15, 2007
Midwest Residential Winterizing
In preparation for winter, there are dozens of list items to complete for the average homeowner. I plan to share a dozen of the most important ones. Getting started NOW ensures you won’t be caught by surprise when Old Man Winter arrives. I had originally planned to use this topic for next month’s edition, but now I’m giving you an entire month in advance to get your list done. Say it aloud - “thanks Phil.”
1. Winterize that lawn. There are several different methods of doing this and not everyone agrees, but I’ll give you the basics. Rake up your leaves and miscellaneous clippings. Cut it short one last time and bag it. Aerate. Put down some fall fertilizer. What you do this fall will prepare your lawn for next spring.
2. Fertilize your trees as well – especially if you’re trying to accelerate growth as I am with many of the new trees in my yard. I’m not a landscaper, so that’s all the detail I’ll share. I’m sure our landscaping columnist will have more on this topic on page ???.
3. Clean those gutters. According to my studies, the number one cause of wood-rot is clogged gutters. You should make sure they’re clean after the last leaves have fallen. You’d be absolutely shocked by how many people neglect this simple responsibility. Don’t become one of them.
4. While you’re up on a ladder inspect your roof. Your shingles should be pliable. If they’re brittle and coming up, you’re due for a new roof. Sometimes the wind will blow shingles off in spots you can’t see from the ground, so do a thorough visual inspection. You don’t want to realize you have a leaky roof with two inches of ice outside.
5. Your deck looks terrible because you missed my column two months ago. It’s okay, we’ll just clean and seal it up in the spring. WRONG. Big mistake. The moist freezing and thawing processes brought on by winter pulverizes wood over time. If you procrastinate this task, water will penetrate, freeze, and crack the wood, thereby shortening the life of your deck.
6. There are two options in this step. You may continue sending all your money to the gas company, or you can make sure you have at least 12 inches of insulation in your attic. Pick one.
7. Cold air and moisture penetrate into your home through cracks in your exterior, especially around trim and windows. Walk around and seal those cracks with a tube of painters caulk. The exception to this rule is the underside of horizontal trim, which is left open to allow moisture a place to escape if it does penetrate the topside. This is another highly-neglected homeowner task which ends up costing money later.
8. For those of you with sprinkler systems, please don’t forget to flush them. I promise you’ll only forget one time. Additionally, if you have any outdoor fountains or misting systems disconnect and stow for the winter.
9. Drain the gas from your lawnmower or just let it run until it’s empty.
10. Cover your patio furniture or store inside if you have room.
11. Clean debris from around your A/C condenser and cover your A/C for the winter. Covering it isn’t absolutely essential, but may extend the life of your unit by keeping it clean. Special A/C covers can be purchased, but I plan to use an inexpensive tarp and bungee cord.
12. Take your heating system for a test run or pay to have it tested. I suspect you don’t wish to discover a problem the first night the temperature dips into the teens. I also recommend purchasing an inexpensive carbon monoxide detector. Too many people have senselessly lost their lives due to ventilation problems with heat systems. Twenty bucks is cheap peace of mind.
Most of these steps can be accomplished in a Saturday or by skipping a couple of Chiefs games on Sunday afternoons. You may not be missing much this year.