Get ready for winter
Heat, pipes and gutters, sorted before the cold.
6 steps · about 5 hr in all
Start this plan in Haven
- Get your heating system checked before winterContractors get busy once it turns cold, so book a heating check in the fall; on gas or oil equipment it covers the burner, fuel connections and heat exchanger, which affect safety.1 hr · Call a pro · Yearly · Homes with a heating system
- Disconnect hoses and drain outdoor faucetsBefore the first freeze, remove garden hoses, close the indoor shutoff valve for each outdoor faucet if there is one, then open the faucet outside to drain it and leave it open.20 min · Easy · Yearly · Doesn’t usually apply to apartments
- Protect pipes in unheated spaces from freezingPipes in garages, crawl spaces, attics and outside walls freeze first, even where hard freezes are rare; insulate them, let a faucet drip on very cold nights, and keep the heat at 55°F or above.1 hr · Easy · Yearly
- Find and label your main water shutoffWhen a pipe bursts, this is the one valve that stops water entering the whole home and there’s no time to hunt for it then; turn it gently, and call a plumber if it’s stuck.20 min · Easy · One time
- Clean your gutters and check the downspoutsClear gutters carry rain and snowmelt away from your roof and foundation, so clean them in spring and fall, make sure downspouts empty at least 5 feet from the house, and hire a pro for anything you can’t reach safely.1.5 hr · Moderate · Every 6 months · Homes with gutters the owner looks after
- Seal drafts around doors and windowsWorn weatherstripping and cracked caulk let heat out and cold air in; if you can see daylight around a closed door or window, it needs sealing.1 hr · Easy · Yearly
Keep this plan for your own home.
Haven fits the steps to your house, reminds you when each one is due, and Clark walks you through any of them.