Preparation and prevention is the key to keeping your house in great shape! NJW, your Columbus, Ohio, home remodeling company wanted to share some of our top items when it comes to preparing your home for winter. Cold weather can be harsh on your exterior and interior, so by doing some of these things you will reap the benefits down the road! Check out part I of this two part series, maybe try to tackle 5 of these things and then revisit the list.

Clean Those Gutters

An old plastic spatula makes a great tool for cleaning debris from gutters! It doesn’t scratch it up and you can cut it to fit gutter contours with snips. Grime wipes right off the spatula too, making cleanup a breeze.

Check Your Detectors

With furnaces turned on, the windows closed and portable heaters humming along, fall is a great time to make sure your smoke and CO detectors are working. Check batteries and expiration dates while you are at it!

Aerate the Soil

Aerating means making holes in the ground by removing plugs of soil. It is probably one of the most important tasks you can perform to maintain a healthy, good-looking lawn. It relieves compaction caused by foot traffic and creates extra pore space in the soil, allowing air, nutrients and water to enter. All of that helps roots to thrive. Aerate your lawn at least once a year, preferably in the fall.

Change Your Furnace Filter

This is one of the easiest things you can do to keep your furnace in good shape. If you haven’t changed it in a while, make sure you have a fresh one before your turn your furnace on for the first time!

Rake Leaves

Leaves look beautiful blanketing the ground, but leaving too many leaves on a lawn over winter in a snowy area can inhibit spring growth. To make the job easier, choose a lightweight rake, wear gloves to protect your hands and use handheld “leaf scoops” to bag leaves quickly.

Make Exterior Repairs

Take a walk around your property, looking for signs of damage to the roof, siding and foundation. If you spot anything that needs repair, schedule it before winter weather hits.

Stay tuned for Part II next week, where we will share more items to consider that could really get your home in tip top shape for winter!