DITCH THE GUTTER CLUTTER
Your gutters are constantly pummelled by leaves and other uninvited foliage. Autumn/early winter is the optimal time to get rid of it all. Any leaves or twigs are going to soak in water before freezing, adding extra weight before any ice starts to pile up. Make sure everything is properly fastened as well – nobody wants to wrestle with a fallen gutter in the snow.
LEAK-PROOF THE ROOF
While you’re up there with the gutters, give your roof a once over. Any missing, loose or broken roof slates? Are there lingering leaves and pine needles to be swept away? It may be a good idea to have a local handyman come by, just to make sure your roof can handle the weight of a heavy snowfall, or to fix any leak-prone areas. Now that the roof’s all patched up, string up some Christmas lights!
UNWANTED WATER
Once you’re safely off the roof and back on the ground, it’s a good time to round up all the garden hoses. Roll them up securely and place them somewhere away from the cold winds. Next, ensure your downspouts are draining a good distance away from your house to prevent basement flooding. Finally, drain all the water from outdoor sprinklers. If your taps are on the older side, it wouldn’t hurt to wrap them up to keep out cold water.
IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE
When the weather finally turns from golden November sunshine to grey skies and snowfall, double check the winter-supplies: Make sure you have enough grit to last the winter, a trusty shovel, and your power-outage emergency kit (blankets, flashlights, batteries, bottled water, canned goods, etc.). By the time it’s snowing, everyone else will have realized they need all these items and the shops will be thoroughly picked over.
At the end of the day, you’ve secured your house and prepared for the upcoming cold. The only thing left to do is cozy up to friends and family in your toasty living room. Hopefully on that battery-run you picked up some hot chocolate, because it’s time to relax.