Gear Up for Winter by Starting This Fall
BY RANDALL S. JONES
Living in Nebraska it’s a safe bet that winter will be cold. Why not start your winter preparation by taking care of things at home this fall? Our Aging Partners Home Handyman program suggests the following tips to help you make sure you’re doing what you can to gear-up for the winter months:
Clean your gutters one last time after the leaves have fallen. A little bit of work done now might save you a lot of work later from overflowing gutters and ice dams on your roof.
After the leaves have fallen, get them raked and off your grass. Leaving them (pun intended) can damage the lawn over the winter due to insects and breakdown of the leaves themselves.
Disconnect and take your garden hoses inside to prevent frozen pipes.
Turn your garden over and add composted manure. Turning the garden soil in the fall allows moisture to penetrate the ground further. Adding composted manure in the fall gives it additional time to breakdown and mix in with your soil.
Check the foundation of your home for cracks and seal appropriately, if needed. It helps keep critters out and the home warm during winter.
Clean your dryer vents to improve dryer performance.
Trim bushes and trees after leaves have fallen.
Clean up brush and grasses around the house foundation. If you limit areas where mice might be outside, you can reduce the possibility of them “upgrading” to your home.
Remove window air conditioning units and store them for the winter.
Set up a call-list of neighbors, friends, and family to contact every so often during the winter. It’s important to do this all the time, but. especially when it’s too cold to be out and about. We are all in this together!
If you’d like to inquire about our Home Handyman program and determine if you qualify for assistance, call 402-441-8815.
Randall S. Jones is with Aging Partners and is a contributing writer for Lincoln 55+ magazine.
Prepare Your Home Before You Leave for the Winter
Before you head to sunshine and no snow for the winter, don’t forget to prepare your home for when you’re gone for several months. Here are some helpful reminders to ensure you don’t come back in the spring to find any major problems.
Turn off the water supply and drain water lines
Unplug all appliances that won’t be in use
Turn down the heat
Make sure trash cans are empty
Doing these few tasks allows you to enjoy your time away without worrying about your home. You can also ask a friend or professional to check in at your residence every so often to ensure everything is as you left it.