Well, it’s about that time. Those of us in colder climates are feeling the freezing temperatures sneaking up and if we haven’t winterized our homes yet, we’re also starting to feel that nagging stress that comes from procrastination. So without further ado, here’s a checklist of to-dos for making sure you’re prepared for the bitter months ahead…

Outside

• Clean the leftovers of Fall out of your gutters.
• Make sure your down spouts are carrying drainage away from your foundation.
• Check your house’s foundation and basement windows for access points rodents might use to help themselves to the warmth and comfort of your home. Block them.
• Turn the water off to your outside spigots.
• Cover your basement’s window wells.
• Consider planting evergreen trees/bushes close to your home to block the winter wind.

Heating

• Have your furnace inspected by a professional.
• Stock up on filters for your furnace.
• Change your filters monthly.
• Vacuum out your ducts if you haven’t in the last couple years.
• Make sure your cold air returns aren’t blocked.
• Shut vents in areas you don’t use.
• Clean vents and baseboard heaters.
• Bleed your radiator valves.
• Reverse the direction your fans spin to keep the warm air down where you are.

Windows

• Remove any window-unit air conditioners.
• Install or put down your storm windows.
• Cover windows with plastic if they’re old and hopelessly drafty.

Gear

• Drain gas from lawnmowers and other gas-powered tools.
• Get a snow blower or get your snow blower tuned up.
• Make sure you know where your snow shovels are.
• Put away your summer gardening equipment in a way you’d like to find them next year. (i.e. Clean them!)
• Drain your garden hoses.
• Get yourself bags of sand and salt.

Plumbing

• Locate your water main in case you have to turn it off in an emergency.
• Insulate pipes that will be exposed to cold.
• On extremely cold nights, keep faucets whose pipes are in an outside wall slightly on so that the water doesn’t sit still and freeze.

Safety

• Test the carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and water heater. If you don’t have one there, install one.
• Make sure you know where your fire extinguisher is. (Get one if you don’t have one. Replace extinguishers that are older than 10 years.)
• Keep a 72-hour emergency kit for use during a power outage.
• Put your utility companies’ phone numbers somewhere you’ll remember them.

Yourself

• Finally — and at the risk of sounding too much like your mother — if you’re cold, put on a sweater.

If you’re ready for it, winter isn’t all that bad, right?

(Sources: About.com, MSN, Productivity 501)