Fall is the perfect season for cozy sweaters, raking leaves, exploring harvest festivals, making your holiday wish list, and enjoying a pumpkin-spiced latte. It’s also the ideal time to get some household chores out of the way in preparation for the winter months ahead.
Following these tips can help prepare you and your family for a safe, healthy, and comfortable winter.
Clean the kitchen
It’s true: a clean kitchen equals better health. A good cleaning helps to prevent cross-contamination and the spreading of bacteria, including food-borne diseases, keep pests away, and will keep you and your family safe from accidents. Clean the oven by hand or use the self-clean feature on a cool day when you can open the windows to air out fumes, then degrease the range hood and filter. Wash out trash cans, wipe down small appliances, and clean the backsplash and light fixtures to create a kitchen you’ll enjoy working in.
Check your heating system
Schedule an appointment with a heating and cooling professional to get your heating system checked before you really need it. Also, check and change your furnace’s air filter. Filters trap dust and allergens in the air; clogged filters make it harder for your system to work, which can lead to increased utility bills and shorten the system’s life span.
Bring in seasonal items
Scrub down your patio and deck furniture. Once they’re clean and dry, cover and store your seasonal items in a dry, protected area to prevent weathering and mold growth. Don’t forget to bring in sensitive outdoor plants.
Don’t freeze the pipes
If you live in a house with an exterior faucet, shut off the water supply to the faucet if you can. Cutting off the water supply will prevent a burst pipe due to freezing temperatures. If you have any garden hoses; detach them, drain them, and store them indoors.
Conduct a safety check
Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, then test each device by pressing the test button. Experts suggest installing a smoke detector on every floor of your home, even the basement.
Keep cold air out
An air leak from a window or door can raise your utility bills during colder months. Hold a candle near the frame of a suspected air leak to see if the flame quivers or goes out. If it does, you might want to consider a window or door replacement. You can also seal off smaller gaps with caulk or plastic. Don’t forget to take air conditioning units out of your windows or properly cover the outside of each unit to prevent rusting.
Be prepared for winter storms
Stock up on salt or ice melt and have a good shovel available to stay ahead of whatever Mother Nature might throw our way. Also, make sure your car is winter ready by keeping blankets, ice scrapers or brushes, and sand in the trunk in case you get stuck. You may also want to stock your car with water and snacks.
Change the direction of your ceiling fan
Changing the direction of your ceiling fan between seasons can help you lower your utility bill while remaining comfortable. Setting your ceiling fan to spin clockwise in the winter pulls cool air up and pushes warm air down to help keep the room warm.
Take a look from down under
Make sure your fireplace is safe for cold weather. Take a flashlight and see if your damper opens and closes properly – when open, you should see daylight at the top of the chimney. If you find any issues, call a professional for an inspection.
We hope with these tips and reminders will help you and your family be ready for when the snow flies, the wind blows, and Old Man Winter knocks on our door! If you need assistance, please visit our FindHelp website.
Northern Light Health FindHelp is focused on the social health needs of our patients and communities, and the resources listed have been developed with the help of our care teams.