When you’re ready to winterize your home, having the right tools is essential to ensure your home is buttoned up once the weather gets cold. Whether you have outdoor projects or indoor repairs to make, you’ll need the right equipment to get improvements accomplished. Here’s a list of four fall maintenance tasks that you should complete before it starts to snow.

How to Prepare Your Home for Winter Weather

1. Clean Gutters

Clearing your gutters and cleaning off your roof should be done both in the spring and fall. With the right tools—a tall ladder, small shovel, gardening gloves, and a bucket—you can clear accumulations of leaves, dirt, and debris from your home’s roof and gutters. Removing blockages allows rain and melting snow and ice to run off your roof and away from your home, helping prevent water damage to the roof, attic, foundation, and basement.

2. Seal Windows & Doors 

Use weather stripping around door frames and windows to block cold air and keep warm air inside. Use an extra bit of caulking to insulate exterior doors or wherever there are significant cracks.

Fall is an ideal time to repair or replace windows, including adding foam insulation or installing new frames or panes.

3. Insulate Pipes

If you have an older home, you might run the risk of frozen or busted pipes. Help under-sink and basement pipes stay warm by keeping doors open to allow warm air to circulate. Use foam sleeves around pipes to prevent water from freezing on frigid nights and protect your home from leaks and water damage.

4. Stock Winter Supplies

Clearing snow and ice from your driveway and sidewalk requires the right tools. Invest in a sturdy snow shovel or plow, and stock up on de-icers and salt for your walkways. Winter weather can be unpredictable. Have plenty of supplies on hand to prevent slips and falls.

No matter the season, find the tools and equipment for landscaping, home improvement, and winterizing projects at Wolfe Ace Hardware in Lincoln, NE. They also provide key and window services to homes and businesses throughout the area. To learn more about their inventory, call (402) 466-7707, or visit them online.