The cold weather has finally arrived in Gwinnett County! To ensure a smooth winter transition, you must prepare your home accordingly! Although the weather isn’t freezing yet, it is better to be prepared ahead of time, than to be stressed out last minute in the crisp winter air! By doing a little winter preparation around the inside and outside of your home, you will be ready for the Winter season in no time!
Outdoors
No one wants to be outside in 32-degree weather preparing their home for the first winter snow! With that being said, take an afternoon to knock out these few outdoor winter preparation tasks. 
Start by trimming overhanging trees and shrubs. During the windy winter months, they could cause potential damage to your roof and property if they fall! Another important component of Winter preparation is draining your hose and its pipes. Exterior faucets should be properly drained, closed, and covered before the first freeze arrives, or they might crack or burst! Make sure you detach your hose and cover the spout for the season. You can use an old rag to wrap around the spout, or you can purchase an inexpensive faucet cover from any local hardware store. Covering your exterior faucet will successfully prevent any potential disasters during the wintertime.
Indoors
Prevent Cold Air from Circulating
Since you will most likely be spending most of the winter season indoors, it is important to have everything inside in working order. Start by checking all windows and doors for drafts. If a draft is found, purchase a draft stopper at your local home improvement store. By blocking the draft from entering your home, your A/C unit will not have to work as hard, and your electricity bills won’t be so high from losing warm air. Another way to avoid losing warm air is to put your ceiling fans in reverse. Not many know, but if there is a switch on your fixture, that switches the direction of the fan, which pushes the warm air down, instead of circulating the cold. Who knew?!
Additional Warmth Tricks
If your heat simply isn’t doing the job this winter, don’t fret! Other winter preparation ideas will keep
your home warm all season! Switch out your thin, sheer curtains for thicker, insulated curtains. A lot of cold air can come off the windows and by hanging insulated curtains, it is extra warmth being kept away from the chilly windows! Also, be sure to swap out your summer bedding for cozy fleece bedding! There is nothing worse than waking up in a freezing room in the middle of winter, but with insulated curtains and a big fleece blanket, you won’t have to worry!
Behind the Scenes Check
HVAC System
There are a few crucial winter preparation tasks for the inside of your home that you can’t forget about! Most importantly, start by checking your HVAC system filter. Failure to regularly replace your air filters can result in a frozen system. The last thing you want during this winter is a failed A/C unit. If the filters aren’t changed in a suitable amount of time they can deteriorate and end up costing you money that you could potentially avoid spending. Not only could it freeze the system, but dust particles in the air also become unable to be filtered, which causes the air in your home to become unsanitary and polluted. Keep your HVAC units clean and serviced regularly to prevent issues in the colder winter months. Check out this video on how to change your HVAC filter in less than two minutes!
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector/ Thermostats
Checking your alarms and detectors is another crucial aspect of winter preparation! With the holidays and all the cooking and baking that is going to be coming up, it is important to check all your monitors and thermostats to ensure they are working properly. The last thing you want is your thermostat to go dead in the prime of winter, or even worse, your C02 detector not catching a gas leak! Check what kind of batteries your detectors use and replace them before the first snow to avoid any potential problems this winter!
Fireplace
If you have a fireplace, it is crucial to ensure it is ready to use by the winter season, for obvious reasons.
Check and make sure the flue is open and free of debris. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, gather some wood before the freezing weather to save yourself the hassle later down the road. Don’t forget to make sure your alarms and detectors are in working order before you light your first fire of the season to guarantee no potential problems!
This winter, we want to ensure all of our residents are doing what they can to prepare their homes for winter! By doing just a few things here and there, your home will be ready for the season in no time!
If you are looking to move into Gwinnett County, then contact us today for assistance with property management services and we will help you find the perfect rental home! If you own a home and would like to rent it out in Gwinnett County, then reach out to us and we will be glad to assist you in the process!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
