When the temperature drops, it’s important to get your home winter ready in order to prevent problems like frozen pipes and faulty windows, and to maintain good air quality during the months that you and your family spend more time inside. Winterizing your home can also keep your energy bills down and, most importantly, keep the residents of your home safe.

Here are a few important “winter prep” to-dos for every homeowner:

Clean out gutters. Clear out debris, leaves, and soot from all of your gutters so that water can flow through them freely. Clogged gutters cannot properly carry water away from your property, resulting in a range of issues—from water entering the home through the roof to ice buildup around the drain pipes. Not only will this lead to interior water damage in walls and ceilings, it will eventually lead to mold growth.

Check all windows and doors. Check all weather stripping around door and window frames and replace if needed. Wooden frames should also be checked for decay and windows should be caulked or repaired.

Replace all air filters. The start of winter should be a reminder to replace all air filters in your central HVAC system, improving air quality and keeping your furnace and air conditioner in good working condition. It’s also a good idea to have an HVAC professional perform a seasonal tune-up on your systems.

Clean all air ducts. Ducts throughout the home collect dust mites, pet dander, dirt, and more. Indoor air quality can be improved when homeowners periodically clean their ductworks—an HVAC technician or duct specialist can complete this service for you. Keeping your ducts cleaned will help your heating and cooling systems work more efficiently, too.

Shut off exterior faucets. Probably one of the most important things you can do to prevent frozen water lines and burst pipes is to drain and disconnect all hoses and blow out your sprinkler system before the first frost of the season. Cover drained hoses with a hose bib cover. Ideally, you should check for and fix any leaks in your outdoor pipes before winterizing them.

Complete a deep clean. Every home could benefit from a thorough clean from top to bottom. Did you know that AOA Cleaning & Restoration offers residential as well as commercial cleaning services? We sanitize and disinfect homes with our state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning products—the very same products used for our commercial clients.

A little winter preparation can prevent major problems in your home—however, even the best laid plans go awry. If you experience flooding, water damage, mold, or another problem this winter—or any time of year—call AOA Cleaning & Restoration. We’ll respond right away and will restore your home back to normal as quickly as possible. Or, if you are simply looking for a deep clean treatment to minimize allergens and reduce bacteria in your home this winter, we can help with that too. To learn more about our restoration or residential cleaning services, call us at 201-848-8600.