Last updated – October 2024
With winter on the way, many of us are looking forward to cozy fireside cups of cocoa or hitting the slopes with family and friends. While planning for a fun-filled winter, though, it’s important not to overlook the steps you should take to ensure a safe and healthy winter, as well. Before the chill in the air sets in for good, there are steps you should take to prepare your home and family for the cold winter weather.
Preparing Your Home For Winter
Whether you’re new to Bozeman’s winters or are a long-time local, you don’t want to wait until the last minute to stock up on essentials before a coming storm. The best preparation for winter weather begins months before the first snowflake falls.
Do a Winter Prep Walk-Through of Your Home
While every home is different and will, therefore, have different needs, winter preparation tasks fall into groupings of shared categories that apply to every situation. It may look like a lot, but many items on the checklist below can be completed on your own in a matter of minutes, while many common repairs take under an hour. Set aside some time this weekend and knock them all out!
Get a Professional HVAC System Inspection
In some instances, no matter how handy you are, you really should call in a pro. The two areas where hiring a pro can save you some headache and assure your safety is in dealing with your HVAC system and fireplace.
While you can replace air filters in your HVAC system and reseal ducts with duct tape on your own, you should still schedule an inspection with a qualified HVAC technician before winter arrives. Depending on the type of heating system in your home, your HVAC system should be inspected and cleaned 1-2 times per year.
Safety Hazard: Get a Professional Fireplace Inspection
Similarly, fireplace and chimney inspections should be completed by a professional. A fireplace professional will survey your gas or wood fireplace and chimney inside and out during an annual inspection. Soot and other debris can build up in your fireplace leading to a significant safety risk. Gas fireplace inspections involve detecting worn parts, gas leaks and other issues that could create a safety hazard.
Not sure whether you can DIY a repair or if it’s time to call in a professional? Come by Owenhouse Ace Hardware and talk to one of our experts and we can help you sort it out!
Is Your Home Ready For Winter?
Keep Your Home Safe And Warm
With Our Bozeman Winter Checklist!
Prepare Your Home For Heating
Clear The Chimney
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- Get that fireplace ready! Schedule your yearly inspection to keep it safe and cozy all winter long.
- Don’t forget to stock up on firewood or heating oil at Owenhouse Ace if needed.
Test The Heating System & Change The Air Filters
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- Swap out your HVAC system air filters or its efficiency will drop decrease. Change them every three months, or every month if you’ve got pets or allergies.
- You can also call an HVAC pro for a check-up and a cleaning to keep things running smoothly.
Make Your Home Smarter This Winter
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- Consider a smart thermostat to save on heating costs. It helps prevent overheating and keeps your home at the perfect temperature.
- Ever heard of smart leak and freeze detectors? They can catch freezing or burst pipes before they cause damage.
- One last thing – we highly recommend smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as well. They can alert you remotely if there’s an issue!
Weatherproof Your Home
Install Weatherstripping on Windows & Doors
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- Walk through your home and feel for drafts around windows and doors.
- Seal up any gaps to keep the warm air in and the cold out.
- Older home? Grab some window insulation kits to keep that cozy warmth inside!
Check The Roof & Gutters
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- Clean gutters of leaves and other debris.
- Inspect the exterior surfaces of your home for minor gaps and cracks that need to be filled.
Insulate The Hot Water Tank & Exterior Outlets
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- Not comfortable handling the water heater? No worries—schedule maintenance for it.
- Does it feel like your water heater has lost efficiency and needs to be replaced? Check out our Water Heater Guide and stop by Owenhouse Ace to ask our experts!
Winterize Your Outdoors
Clean & Cover The Condensing Unit
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- Cover or bring in your patio furniture and other landscaping decor that could be damaged or cause damage over the winter months. Swing by Owenhouse Ace for your patio furnitures covers!
- Drain gas from your lawn equipment and clean it before storing it for the winter. Not sure how to do this? Stop by Owenhouse Ace Hardware for the advice and tips you need on winterizing your tools.
Insulate The Exposed Piping
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- Check for and repair any leaks in pipes and faucets.
- Insulate water pipes in unheated spaces as well as those against outdoor walls.
Clean The Sprinkler System
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- Drain outdoor hoses, sprinklers, and faucets.
- Remove hoses from outdoor faucets and store them indoors or in the garage or shed over winter.
- Cover those hose bibs with insulated covers.
Winter Emergency Preparedness
- Make sure you’re prepared for any big snowstorm this winter! Feeling like 2023 was light? It’s one more reason to be prepared for a more challenging winter!
- Make sure you have one or more strong, durable snow shovels to clear your porch, walkway, and sidewalk. If you have a lot of ground to cover and want to avoid back pain, consider getting a snow blower!
- Make sure you have enough de-icing or ice melt compounds at home and in your car to get you through the winter.
- Check and repair (or invest in) emergency heating equipment and a backup generator in case you lose power.
- Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and replace their batteries if needed. House fires peak in December and January!
- Create or replenish your home emergency kit. Make sure it’s stocked with a five-day supply of food, water, cold-weather gear, medications, a first-aid kit, flashlights, and batteries. Wanting to make your own emergency kit? Check out our DIY Winter Emergency Kit blog!
Keep in mind that you can find most of it at Owenhouse Ace!
Share this image with your friends and family to help them get ready for the upcoming season!
Contact One of Our Local Experts For More Help and Information!
While this checklist can serve as a jumping-off point for your home winterization planning, you may have other projects in your home or outside that need your attention, as well. Whether you have a project to take on and you’re not sure where to start or you need to pick up the tools and supplies to get your house winter-ready, Owenhouse is here to help! With friendly experts in every department, you’ll find all the equipment, tools, and tricks of the trade you need to check off every last item on your list. Give us a call or swing by today and see why our friends and neighbors in Bozeman have trusted Owenhouse Ace Hardware for their hardware and home improvement needs for more than 100 years.
Related Departments
- Visit our Parts & Repair Shop to get the replacement parts you need for your snowblowers and generators.
- Buy or replace winter weather power equipment in our Power Equipment Department.
- Stop by the Electrical Department for surge protectors, flashlights, batteries, and more that you need to keep your family and house safe during the cold winter months.
- Take care of repairs around the house and install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and other home safety products from the Hardware Department.
- Replace old appliances, or find items for your home emergency kit such as can openers, candles, and radios in the Kitchen Department.
