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Your Must-Have Winter Prep Checklist

Hawthorne Tenant Mowing the Lawn in FallThe change in weather points toward the coming of winter. A change in season brings different events and tasks; but, one thing you have to take note of is preparing your home for winter. Every Hawthorne rental home requires seasonal maintenance so that it can be kept in good condition month after month. When should you get ready for a new season? Way before it actually comes. Even though some winterization tasks are best left to your landlord or a professional, there are things that you yourself can do in order to get your home ready for the cold temperature.

Cooling System

Once temperatures have dropped enough that your air conditioner is no longer needed, it’s time to winterize it for the season. In so doing, you protect your unit and improve it so that it performs just as well the next time. Prepping an AC unit for winter is easy: clean off the condensing unit with a spray of water, let dry, and then cover the unit with a breathable, waterproof cover. If you have window units, make sure you shut all your vents and cover them.

Heating System

With winter approaching, it’s important to fire up your furnace for a test run long before you need it. Turn your furnace on simply to check if it is still working. Also, be sure to replace your air filters, clean and open all heating vents, and check for any obstructions. Any issues that you encounter should immediately be reported to your landlord.

Fireplace

If your rental home has a fireplace, there are a few things you can do to prepare it for use. Make sure that the chimney has been thoroughly cleaned. If it’s not clean, however, then request a cleaning to be scheduled from your landlord. All the more if you have reason to believe that birds, mice, squirrels, or other animals have made a nest inside. Then, remove any flammable objects from around the fireplace opening and check that the damper is working properly.

Plumbing

It is not at all uncommon to have to be careful with frozen water pipes when the weather is freezing. To help keep your home’s pipes from freezing, take steps before cold temperatures arrive. Check the basement, crawlspace, attic, or exterior for exposed pipes. Then, wrap any pipes with foam insulating sleeves. As needed, exterior faucets, hoses, and sprinkler systems should be drained, disconnected, and covered. These might be basic steps, but they can ensure the proper function of your plumbing throughout the winter.

Windows & Doors

When temperatures drop low, expect to have issues with drafts and air leaks. This is why it’s important for you to check your home’s doors and windows for gaps, cracks, and air leaks so that you can handle any potential problems before they blow up. The majority of air leaks around doors and windows can be fixed with some caulk or weather stripping. If air leaks but it don’t trace back to an obvious source, call your landlord to have it checked out by a professional.

Yard & Patio

Finally, make sure you don’t neglect your yard, patio, or deck for the winter, too. Autumn is a wonderful time to trim back trees and shrubs, clean up fallen leaves, and mow the lawn one last time. Also, don’t forget to cover and store grills, patio furniture, cushions, hammocks, and other warm-weather furnishings. Don’t let snow or cold weather damage your outdoor furnishings – by taking good care of them, they will definitely last longer.

 

If getting your home ready for winter is a bit too much for you, just think about how much it will be worth it once the cold temperatures arrive. But if the winters in your current rental home are too much, maybe it’s time to consider moving. Check out the available rental listings that Real Property Management DePenn has to offer.

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