First American Home Warranty 101: Winter Home Maintenance Checklist

The holidays are the perfect time to get the family together for some much-needed bonding time. We at First American Home Warranty suggest that before you have company over, you should ensure that your home is prepared for the winter. After all, you don’t want your home appliances and systems failing when you have guests over.

Here are some of the things you should go over before the holidays in a few weeks: 

Draft-Proof Your Home

Do you feel the chill in the air? Your doors and windows may not be properly sealed, allowing in cold air and moisture. This can increase your heating bill, too! Thankfully, there are numerous ways to handle drafts. Weatherstripping, installing sweeps, applying foil stripping and foam insulation, and window films are just some of them. We at First American Home Warranty recommend that you handle this drafty situation as soon as you can. 

Be the Perfect Hose 

Unless you need it, your outdoor water supply should already be shut off. Allow your outdoor faucets or hose bibs to drain out, and disconnect, drain, and store your garden hoses. As for your indoor water supply, inspect hose lines to ensure that your hoses are not  leaking. This includes the hoses you use in the kitchen and laundry room, including your clothes washer, dishwasher, and refrigerator. 

Be Ready for Santa (Or at the very least, clean your fireplace!) 

Many children love Christmas for the gifts that are left behind by Santa Claus. However, a dirty fireplace isn’t only unsightly; it is also a health hazard. Make sure that you clean your fireplace and chimney so your kids won’t inhale hazardous molds or bacteria in the air. To make it easier for professional chimney sweepers by removing debris and ashes from your fireplace every time you light a fire. 

This list is a great start, but we at First American Home Warranty  recommend a more comprehensive list of maintenance tasks to do before you can declare your home ready for the winter.