Your Home & Garage Winterizing Checklist
As temperatures drop, we want to share our winterizing checklist to help you prepare your home and garage for the harsh Wisconsin winter weather. Here’s what we recommend.
- Turn off all external water lines. This includes water hoses or any other plumbing you may have that is exposed to the exterior of the home. This will prevent damage to your pipes.
- Clean out your gutters. Make sure the gutters around your house and garage are clear of leaves and other debris. This will be necessary for your gutters to drain properly throughout the changing seasons.
- Seal any cracks in your driveway. You’ll thank us for this one when you are shoveling or snow blowing this winter. A smoother driveway will make this task easier to complete and also protect your car and driveway from further pothole damage.
- Fix or replace weatherstripping. Weatherstripping creates a seal between the garage door and the garage opening. You’ll want to make sure this material is working properly to help keep your garage protected from the winter elements, including negative temperatures and moisture.
- Replace damaged garage and service doors. If your garage door or the side service door are damaged in any way, this can only get worse in the winter and can lead to other problems. Replacing your garage doors can make a huge difference in the longevity of your garage and everything you keep inside it.
- Seal any cracks in your home or garage. If you have siding or foundation cracks, it’s important to either replace the material or to seal the area to make sure your home and garage are weather-resistant and watertight.
- Install a heating unit or insulated walls. This is for anyone who’s looking to utilize their garage space throughout the winter or if you are storing any valuable items such as furniture, artwork, or liquid.
- Lubricate all moving parts of your garage. The last thing you want is for your garage to tighten up in the middle of the freezing winter. You can get ahead of this by having a garage expert come do a garage service check or by doing your own maintenance on the mechanics of the garage door opening system.
- Make sure you have proper snow and ice removal equipment. In the winter, many accidents can happen in driveways because of ice and snow. Make sure you have salt and the proper equipment to keep up with the ever-changing winter weather. This will help you prevent damage to your driveway, car, home, garage, and even yourself!
- Move any electronics inside. Cold temperatures can be harsh on electronics, even on extension cords. If you can, keep these stored in a basement or another inside space for the winter to extend their lifespan.
- Cover your air conditioning unit. Getting a cover or a tarp that fits tightly over and around the air conditioner is important. Not only will this protect the unit, but it will keep cold drafts from entering your home vents throughout the winter.
While there are many ways to prepare your home and garage for winter, these eleven home and garage winterizing tips will get you on the right track of protecting your property from winter weather and will also increase the lifespan of your home and its belongings.
For assistance with garage door maintenance, give J.D. Griffiths a call! We’ll help make sure your garage is ready for any weather!
