10 steps to ensure a safe and warm season
by Alicia Fleming
As winter approaches in Vermont, it’s essential to prepare your home for freezing temperatures, snow, and icy conditions. These preparations are not just about comfort; they are critical for maintaining safety and avoiding costly damage to your home and potentially your health. This guide covers key steps to winterize your home to ensure your home, you and your loved ones remain safe throughout the entire season.
1. Inspect and Service Your Heating System
Your heating system is the heart of your home during a Vermont winter, so ensuring it’s in top condition is the first step in making your home safe and comfortable.
Schedule a Professional Inspection: Hire a qualified HVAC technician to check and service your furnace, boiler, or heat pump. They will clean and test your system, ensuring it’s ready to handle the cold months.
Replace Air Filters Regularly: Clogged filters reduce efficiency and can overwork your heating system, leading to breakdowns. It is beneficial to replace filters every one to three months. If you have pets, replacement each month is recommended.
Test and Install a Smart Thermostat: A programmable or smart thermostat will optimize energy use, keeping your home comfortable while preventing overuse of the system.
2. Inspect and Protect Pipes
Frozen pipes are a common winter hazard in Vermont. When pipes freeze, they can burst, causing significant water damage to your home.
Insulate Exposed Pipes: Focus on pipes in unheated areas like basements, garages, attics, and crawl spaces. Use pipe insulation or heating tape to prevent freezing.
Let Faucets Drip During Extreme Cold: Allowing a slight drip from faucets connected to exposed pipes can prevent freezing by keeping water flowing.
Shut Off and Drain Exterior Water Lines: Disconnect and store hoses and shut off water to outdoor faucets. Drain any remaining water to prevent freezing in the pipes. This should be done prior to freezing temperatures and typically the end of October for many Vermont homeowners.
3. Seal Drafts and Improve Insulation
Energy efficiency is not only about comfort but also about safety. A well-insulated home reduces the strain on your heating system and prevents ice-related issues like frozen pipes.
Seal Windows and Doors: Check for drafts around windows and doors and use weatherstripping or caulking to seal gaps. Drafts can make your heating system work harder and cause uneven heating. This form of draft prevention can help reduce costly heating bills.
Check Attic and Wall Insulation: Ensure your attic and walls are well-insulated to prevent heat loss. Poor insulation can lead to ice dams forming on the roof, which can cause leaks and structural damage.
Install Storm Windows or Insulate with Plastic Film: Adding an extra layer of protection to your windows keeps cold air out and reduces the risk of frost forming inside. If your windows are outdated, consider replacing them with energy-efficient models designed for Vermont’s climate.
4. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
As you use your heating system, fireplace, or wood stove more frequently, the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning increases.
Test All Detectors: Ensure that all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. Replace batteries and check expiration dates on detectors, as they often need to be replaced every 7 to 10 years.
Install Detectors in Key Areas: Make sure you have detectors on every level of your home, especially near bedrooms and in areas with gas appliances, wood stoves, or fireplaces.
Proper Ventilation: Ensure your heating system and any combustion appliances are properly vented to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide.
5. Have a Professional Inspect Your Roof and Gutters
Your roof takes the brunt of the winter weather, so it’s crucial to ensure it’s in good condition to handle snow, ice, and wind. Being on the ladder for this type of inspection and work can be dangerous so it is highly recommended that a professional is hired for safety.
Inspection of a Roof for Damage: Professionals look for missing, loose, or damaged shingles, as these can allow snow and water to enter your home, leading to leaks or structural issues.
Clean and Repair Gutters: Clogged gutters can cause ice dams, which can lead to water seeping under your roof and into your home. Ensuring that gutters are free of leaves and debris and properly divert water away from your foundation is an essential winter preparation that will help preserve the integrity of your home.
Consider Installing Gutter Guards: These can help keep debris out, ensuring that water flows freely, and ice doesn’t build up.
6. Prepare Your Chimney and Fireplace
A warm fire is a quintessential part of winter in Vermont, but it comes with safety concerns if not properly maintained.
Have Your Chimney Inspected and Cleaned: Creosote buildup inside your chimney can cause dangerous chimney fires. Hire a professional chimney sweep to inspect and clean it before the first use of the season.
Install a Chimney Cap: A chimney cap prevents snow, rain, and debris from entering your chimney and keeps animals from nesting inside.
Check Firewood Storage: Make sure firewood is stored in a dry place, away from your home, to prevent pests and moisture-related issues.
7. Maintain Walkways and Driveways
Snow and ice on walkways and driveways can create slip hazards for you, your family, and visitors.
Snow Removal: Keep walkways, driveways, and steps clear of snow to prevent slips and falls. If it is unsafe for you to accomplish on own, a professional should be hired so you avoid slip and fall injuries.
Apply Ice Melt or Sand: Spread ice melt or sand on icy surfaces to improve traction and prevent accidents. Be cautious with certain brands of salt as some can damage concrete and vegetation.
Inspect Handrails: Ensure that handrails on steps and porches are secure and sturdy. They provide essential support in icy conditions.
8. Check Your Home’s Emergency Supplies
Power outages are not uncommon during Vermont winters, especially during heavy snow or ice storms. Being prepared for emergencies is essential for safety.
Stock Up on Emergency Supplies: Ensure you have flashlights, batteries, non-perishable food, bottled water, blankets, and first aid supplies in case of an extended power outage.
Prepare Your Generator: If you have a generator, make sure it’s in good working order. Check the fuel supply and test the generator to ensure it can power essential appliances like your furnace, fridge, and lights.
Maintain Backup Heating Options: If you rely on a fireplace, wood stove, or space heater as a backup heat source, ensure these are properly vented, and you have an adequate supply of firewood or fuel.
9. Adequate Ventilation in Garages and Sheds
If you store fuel, snow blowers, or generators in your garage or shed, proper ventilation is crucial to prevent the buildup of harmful fumes.
Ventilate: Ensure there is adequate airflow in areas where fuel is stored, and never run gasoline-powered equipment indoors.
Inspect and Maintain Snow Removal Equipment: Before the first snow hits, inspect snowblowers, shovels, and other equipment to ensure they are in good working condition.
10. Monitor Ice Dams and Icicles
Ice dams and icicles can form on the edges of your roof during the winter, potentially causing significant damage. Hanging icicles above doorways can be hazardous should they fall on anyone.
Ensure Proper Attic Ventilation: Proper attic ventilation and insulation can prevent ice dams by maintaining a consistent temperature on your roof and preventing the buildup of ice.
By taking the necessary steps to prepare your home for winter, you can stay warm and comfortable throughout the season while avoiding costly repairs and emergencies. There are many trusted Vermont businesses and resources to help you winterize your home. Keep safety in mind, and prepare now to enjoy a cozy, stress-free Vermont winter in your home.
For older adults who are unsure where to start or need personalized guidance, Vermont 211 and the Senior Helpline, offered by the Vermont Area Agencies on Aging, provide valuable information on available services. These services can connect seniors to heating assistance programs, home repair grants, and other winterization resources such as information on home weatherization, fuel assistance, heating system repairs, and emergency services. They can provide referrals to local organizations that can assist with home modifications and energy-saving measures. To contact Vermont’s 211 service, Dial 2-1-1. For the Senior Helpline, call 1-800-642-5119.
Alicia Fleming
REALTOR® SRES® CSA® CDP®
Alicia is a trusted Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®, REALTOR®,
Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES)® & Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP)®
802-318-0441 | AliciaFleming@GoldenGuideVT.com
www.primerealestatevt.com | www.goldenguidevt.com
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