Five Home Maintenance Tasks to Complete Before the End of November
November is the perfect time to prepare your home for the cold and spend more time indoors. Well-thought-out weatherproofing will not only help you save on heating bills but also provide greater security during winter storms or simply make you feel more comfortable while staying home. Keeping your home warm, cozy, and safe this winter will be easier if you address potential problems early with simple checkups and chores. Here are all the home maintenance tasks you should tackle in November.
1) Install vent plugs on vents and crawl space.
As cold weather approaches, wildlife seeks suitable shelter for the winter. If you have open vents or crawl spaces, they can be attractive to predators. To protect against them, ensure vents are installed, and crawl spaces and other exterior nooks and crannies are sealed or covered with heavy-duty wire mesh. If you don’t have vents, consider installing them. This method will help keep out squirrels, raccoons, rats, mice, birds, and bats.
2) Replace the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
If you have wireless smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, change the batteries once a year—even before they start beeping annoyingly when they’re low, if you’re ready for that. Also, check the functionality of your various alarm systems. As people spend more time indoors during the colder months, the risk of fires from heaters, candles, and cooking increases. Furthermore, closed and sealed windows can increase the risk of carbon monoxide buildup indoors. Testing your alarms can help reduce this risk.
3) Install weather protection on doors and windows.
If you live in an older home or your windows or doors are poorly insulated, November is a good time to weatherproof problem areas. Start by inspecting the weatherstripping around your doors and windows for leaks, broken, or worn seals. If you find any gaps, use new weatherstripping to seal them. If you have more serious leaks around your windows or doors, or if your older windows are leaking too much air, you can also use a weatherstripping kit to temporarily seal the leaks with shrink wrap. This simple weatherproofing measure will retain heat and help save on utility bills.
4) Organize your supplies for the winter
If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow and ice in the winter, stock up on ice melter , shovels , and roof rakes . Check your snow removal equipment and make sure it’s in good condition before you use it, as replacing it before a storm can save you a lot of trouble down the road. Now is also a good time to stash your ice scraper , snow brush , and snow chains in the trunk of your car. If you live in an area with heavy snowfall and icy conditions, consider keeping the scraper and defroster in the garage or utility room so you can access them if your car freezes.
5) Clean ovens, toasters and other appliances that collect crumbs.
Kitchen fires can be caused by ovens, toasters, and other appliances that accumulate crumbs and other burnt-on food residue. Since people tend to stay home and use their ovens more often during the colder months, not to mention hosting more guests during the holiday season, ovens and toasters are subject to increased use during this time of year. Checking your appliances for cleanliness and safety in November can save you from future troubles, not to mention the joy of cleaner appliances and less work during spring cleaning.