Eight tips to prepare your home for winter / LJWorld.com

Archive for Monday, November 9, 2009

November 9, 2009

Are you ready for winter? Here are eight steps that may help you catch one or two things you forgot to do last month.

Step 1: Empty the gas from your lawn mower, garden equipment and gas cans. Wintertime condensation will ensure engine troubles in the spring if gas is left sitting through the winter. If you cannot empty the tank, add the appropriate amount of Sta-bil gas additive to combat condensation problems.

Step 2: Disconnect the garden hose from the spigot. Water trapped inside the hose will expand when frozen and easily burst the water line supplying the outdoor spigot. Store hoses away for the winter to prolong their life and save you from replacing them in the spring.

Step 3: Protect outdoor spigots over the winter with a cold-weather faucet cover. These Styrofoam covers are specifically designed to attach to the spigot and insulate it during sub zero temperatures.

Step 4: Prune back shrubs and perennial plants. Cover the smaller plants with 6 inches of mulch. The mulch will hold in the winter’s moisture and protect the root ball from severe temperatures.

Step 5: Prune back any low-hanging tree branches that might cause damage to your plants or home when weighted down with snow or ice.

Step 6: Stack and cover any outdoor furniture to protect it from the elements and prolong its useful life.

Step 7: Clean off your outdoor air-conditioning unit and cover it with a water-resistant tarp or air conditioner cover. Not only will the cover protect the air unit, but it will also reduce the back flow of cold air into your home throughout the winter.

Step 8: Drain any rain barrels. Leave the spigot open to ensure water won’t accumulate and freeze over the winter.

Discussion

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9 November 2009
at 7:59 a.m.

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nbnozzy (Anonymous) says…

Some very good tips in this story. I've never bought an outside water spigot tap cover. Will check into it.
9 November 2009
at 8:15 a.m.

Suggest removal

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just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…

On many outdoor water spigots, the valve is actually inside the house, not on the visible, outside part of the spigot.