November Home “Honey Do” List
November Home “Honey Do” List
Chilly weather is coming soon, so before it arrives and stays awhile, get a head start on cold weather home maintenance. Winter weather is tough on a house, so be sure your abode is ready for the chill with this month’s “honey do” list:
- Change that filter!— Let’s start off with an easy task! Be sure to change your HVAC’s air filter. It will help your system run more efficiently (which will save you money) and cut down on allergens.
- Pipe Savers— A broken water pipe is horrible, no matter the season. To prevent broken pipes, drain and disconnect your hoses, wrap exterior pipes and install faucet covers to protect your spigots. Also, if you don’t have central heat, you may want to consider wrapping interior pipes—especially those on exterior walls.
- Fan It Around— Be sure your ceiling fans are set to spin clockwise. Hot air rises, so the “cold weather” fan setting distributes the hot air back down. Most fans have a switch that changes the direction of the blades.
- Give Plants a Fighting Chance— Bring any warm-weather plants indoors or to the garage so they have a fighting chance to survive the winter. (This is assuming you haven’t already killed them off over the summer, like I have.) Add mulch to your flower beds to create a warm “blanket” for the plants. It’s also a good idea to have a few blankets or towels ready for your most delicate plants, in case we have extended freezing temps.
- Fire Safety— Before you snuggle up and light that first fire of the winter, be sure to check your chimney for buildup. If you use it regularly, have it professionally cleaned before you start using it. Chimney fires are preventable with regular cleaning. While we are on the subject of fires…when was the last time you checked out the batteries in your smoke detector? While you’re at it, go ahead and get some extras for the TV remote too—arguably the most important batteries in the house during winter!
Luckily, November isn’t only filled with maintenance tasks—there’s turkey, pies and stuffing too! Here’s to a great holiday season and a happy winter-ready home!
Lisa Priest loves turkey dinner and is a Real Estate Broker / REALTOR® with Picket Fence Realty, Inc. You can reach her via phone or text at 903-948-3343 or read more at BuyPalestine.com.
