Make a list and check it twice for comfort and joy at home throughout the winter season
‘Tis the season to snuggle in! Now is a good time for a home checkup to ensure things are shipshape inside and out for a safe, happy winter and holiday season. The following checklist can help make it easy.
Inside
Most heating/AC companies offer a maintenance plan with a twice-yearly system checkup. If you don’t have a plan, consider how long it’s been. If it’s been more than a year, a checkup now could prevent an unpleasant interruption this winter, when immediate service can be tough to get due to demand. DIY items for your checklist might include:
DIY
- Clear air ducts and lint-traps.
- Replace furnace filters.
- Make sure heat monitors free of dust and debris.
- Keep emergency numbers in a handy spot.
Winterizing: Not just an inside job
Your checklist should include not only the basics inside. Tending to a few simple things surrounding your home is equally important.
Outside
In addition to heating, check that the area around your home is ready for winter.
Rain, moss, leaves and debris can cause slippery pathways and diminished daylight can turn those leisurely strolls to the mailbox or the chicken pen in warm months to be more like running a treacherous obstacle course! Checking and tending to the following can help keep outdoor tasks easy and safe.
- Evaluate the state of stair- and walkways. Remove any flowerpots from stairs or porches. Check the driveway for potholes or uneven spots.
- Check that all outdoor lights are working.
- Install weather stripping and insulation.
- Fix gutters and check for leaks.
Jot down any areas that need attention. Manage the tasks you can and hire a local handyperson for an assist with more complicated fixes.
Holiday Lights & Decor
Everyone loves the beauty and comfort of candles and fires in the hearth this time of year. Keep your home safe and prevent fires this season holidays with these easy steps.
- Decorative lights are labeled for indoor or outdoor use. Lights certified for outdoor use withstand cold and wet conditions. Lights certified for indoor use have been safety tested to ensure they are not a fire hazard for trees. Some firefighters say they recommend putting power strips or other power sources for outdoor decorations in the garage so they stay dry.
- While it’s fine to leave outdoor holiday lights on all night, using a timer to turn them off late at night saves energy. LED Christmas lights are safer to leave on than traditional lights because they produce much less heat.
- Turn off most inside lights and blow out candles before leaving the house or going to bed.
- Experts in holiday safety urge homeowners to get living Christmas Trees as cut trees are a leading fire hazard. If you do choose a cut tree, be sure to keep it watered, so it doesn’t dry out. Set up your tree well away from fireplaces, woodstoves and heaters.
Here Come Visitors!
Gathering with family and friends is a magical part of the holidays. As winter stretches along, nothing brightens a dark, cold day like a cuppa or bite with a beloved companion.
The following will help make your home easy to navigate and safe for friends of all ages and abilities.
- Remove area rugs to prevent falls or slips.
- Consider ramps for ease across thresholds.
- Install extra night lights for better visibility.
Visiting grandkids is a special kind of joy. To help ensure your time together really is “all fun and games,” do a home walk-through to check for areas that need child proofing. Consider the height of the kid(s), moving potential hazards out of reach.
In the kitchen
- Keep knives and sharp objects out of reach.
- When cooking, make sure pot and pan handles are turned inward.
- With toddler grands, cupboard locks are an easy way to protect curious, busy little hands.
Bath and laundry rooms
- Keep prescriptions out of the guest bathroom.
- Put anything questionable in a high, locked closet.
- Keep little fingers safe with covers on electric sockets. Here again, cupboard locks might be a good idea.
Itching to Update a room?
Winter doldrums or the anticipation of guests can stir the desire to spruce things up. If you get the itch, before you dive in, consider this.
Painting indoors during winter can be not only smelly, but fumes can cause headaches or even breathing problems for some people. Also, even minor renovation projects create dirt and chaos.
If your heart’s set on an update, consider fast, fun changes like freshening up a room with a decorative wall hanging. Spruce up a tired corner with original art — by you, friends or family. It’s amazing how beautiful the crayon scribblings of a little one can be when set in a pretty frame! Small arrangements of colorful berries or branches can really brighten the kitchen.
We hope you find these tips helpful in preparing for a safe, joyful winter and holiday season. If you have easy ways to brighten a home in winter or to help keep things more safe/secure, we’d love to hear from you! Email pubisher@50plusmagazine.net
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