8 Things a Homeowner Must Do Before Winter Arrives

Autumn brings a whole range of tasks that homeowners must not leave undone before the cold arrives. Kinnisvara24 marketing manager Martin Matsberg shares advice that makes life easier in winter and the coming spring, but also helps increase property value in the long run if you ever decide to sell your home.

Clean your gutters and roof

During dry weather, it's worth cleaning out the gutters from accumulated fallen leaves and twigs, moss, and other debris. Although the work is tedious, it's worth the effort because dirt eventually clogs the rainwater system and rainwater and meltwater begin to cause extensive water damage to the exterior walls of the house (mold, rot, etc.). If water penetrates into the roof structure as well, the damage is even greater. Clogged gutters can also crack and freeze in winter. Similarly, you should clean leaves and twigs from the roof.

How is your house's hat doing?

The attic is called the house's hat, and junk waiting to be thrown away is often accumulated there, which is why homeowners don't pay special attention to this part of the building. However, now would be the last chance to check what condition the attic is in, whether mold is spreading there, and whether it might be worth insulating the space. An uninsulated attic allows cold air into the house and increases energy consumption.

Tidy up and fertilize your lawn

Although lawn fertilization is mainly associated with summer, in fact it's worth fertilizing both the lawn and other plants just before winter, because during periods of heavy rainfall, nutrients move to the plant roots better. Before spreading fertilizer, however, you should mow the lawn one last time and collect the piles of leaves and clippings, which could become a comfortable winter shelter for garden pests. You can leave a thin layer of leaves to protect the lawn. Flower beds also need attention – remove weeds and mix some of the soil with leaves so plants have extra nutrition. The roots of delicate plants should be protected from the cold with fallen leaves or mulch.

Sort out your terraces!

To help a wooden terrace withstand the winter season better, you should clean it with a pressure washer and treat the wood. If you do this in autumn, the work will go faster in spring.

Sort out the facade

Although most people tackle facade work in spring or summer, autumn is actually when the daily average temperature is still above 8 degrees – according to painting specialists – the ideal time for painting work. With sunny summer weather, the paint's drying time is too short and it doesn't give the paint enough time to soak into the wood. If you don't want to undertake such a large painting job, you can refresh the look by repainting details, such as trim boards.

What condition are your windows and doors in?

Before the wet and damp season arrives, it's good to check the condition of your doors and windows – especially their seals.

Are your heating devices working properly?

Clean your fireplace, stove, cooker, and chimney every autumn. Call a chimney sweep if necessary. If you have a heat pump, order maintenance for both the indoor and outdoor parts. To extend the pump's lifespan, the outdoor part should have a roof that protects it from rain, snow, falling leaves, etc.

What condition is your foundation in?

Your foundation must not have cracks, as moisture can enter the basement through them, causing mold.