My Simple Checklist
Every November I get the same question from clients around Lynden, Ferndale, Blaine, Birch Bay and Everson: “What should I actually do to get my house ready for winter?” Our winters are more wet than snowy, but we get enough cold snaps, windstorms and long rainy stretches to make a little prep worth it. Here’s the checklist I walk through at my own place, and the one I share with sellers before winter showings.
Gutters and Drainage: Keep the Rain Moving
Water is the big one here. Clear leaves and fir needles out of your gutters before the heavy storms, then make sure every downspout empties well away from the foundation. While you’re looking up, check the roof for moss and lifted or missing shingles. Moss holds moisture against the roof, so it’s worth dealing with before it spreads. If you have a crawlspace or a sump pump, take a peek after the first big rain to make sure water isn’t pooling and the pump kicks on.
Pipes and Outdoor Faucets: Get Ahead of the Freeze
North Whatcom gets those icy northeast winds out of the Fraser River Valley, known as the Fraser Outflow, and they can drop temperatures fast. Disconnect garden hoses, drain them and put an insulated cover on each outdoor faucet. If you have an interior shutoff for the outside lines, close it and open the outdoor tap to drain. Wrap exposed pipes in the garage, crawlspace or any other unheated space, and make sure everyone in the house knows where the main water shutoff is.
Unhook the hose and cover outdoor faucets before the first hard freeze.
Heat: Furnace, Filters and Safety Alarms
Swap your furnace filter now and set a reminder to check it again in a couple of months. If it’s been a while, have your furnace or heat pump serviced before the first real cold night, when everyone else is calling too. Keep leaves and debris away from an outdoor heat pump unit. When the clocks change, change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, then test them with the heat running and windows closed.
A fresh filter helps your system run efficiently all winter. Photo: Wikideas1.
Drafts and the Yard: Seal Up and Tie Down
Close a door on a strip of paper. If it slides out easily, the weatherstripping probably needs replacing. Check caulking around windows, too. A quick look in the attic is worth it: thin or matted insulation and damp spots both point to heat escaping or moisture getting in. Outside, store or tie down patio furniture before a windstorm, and keep a bag of de-icer handy for slick steps and decks.
Putting It All Together
None of this takes more than a weekend, and it can save you from the expensive surprises, like a burst pipe or a soggy crawlspace. If you’re thinking about selling this winter, it pays off twice. A dry, warm, well-kept home shows better on a gray day, and buyers’ inspectors have fewer things to flag.
Thinking about buying or selling this season? Reach out to me or call or text me at (425) 443-7873. I’m always happy to talk through what your home needs before winter.
Featured photo: snowy neighborhood in Poulsbo, Washington, by Nick Hoke.