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It’s finally here, the season of fashionable boots, sweaters, hot chocolate and cozying up by the fire. California can have some pretty unpredictable weather no matter what the season, we are never quite certain when winter storms will strike – be prepared, nothing ruins cozying up by the fire like a sudden leak in the roof or a tree branch crashing down. See our top ten winter home preparation tips below.
1. Inspect and Clean Your Chimney – Fireplaces and chimneys are responsible for more than 40% of home-heating fires. Each year before the first use, the fireplace and chimney should be inspected and cleaned. Look for cracks, loose bricks/mortar, damaged chimney caps, animal nests, etc. Find a certified chimney sweep in your area and have soot and debris cleared. You can find a certified chimney sweep through the
2. Have Your Heater/Furnace Inspected – Get a routine maintenance and inspection to make sure everything is in proper working order and replace the air filter. Find more tips from the
3. Inspect Your Roof – Clear roof of all tree debris, look for loose and/or broken tiles, warped shingles, check the flashing around the chimney, and check the seals around skylights. A lot of cracks and broken seals can be repaired using roofing cement and a caulking gun. Check out
4. Tree Maintenance – Extreme weather changes can present major risks with trees in your yard. High winds are responsible for knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes each year, largely due to fallen trees and branches. Remove hazardous, dead or weak branches to prevent damage during the winter season. Click view or download a
5. Clean Your Rain Gutters – Remove all debris that could block proper drainage and cause water to seep into your home. Secure and detour downspouts away from the homes foundation and into areas that need extra water. Check out more tips for cleaning and repairing gutters on the
6. Window and Door Maintenance – Check seals around doors, windows and skylights – cracks and openings can be sealed using caulk and weather stripping can always be replaced or added in necessary areas. Check out more tips on how to check and seal windows from the
7. Pets – Chances are if the weather is too cold for you, it’s too cold for your pet also. Imagine yourself out in the elements wearing nothing but a fur coat, and bare feet…it most certainly would not keep you warm, your pets fur coat is not enough to provide protection from the elements – especially when it’s wet. Pets do not react the same as humans when it comes to showing discomfort and pain, although it may not appear your pet is cold and uncomfortable, odds are they are not warm if you are not warm. If your pet must stay outside, make sure he/she has a safe, warm covered space to retreat from the elements. For more tips on winter pet safety visit
8. Light Preparedness – Replacing light bulbs just before winter will help keep outdoor pathways brightly lit, this is important because let’s face it tripping on the walkway in the rain with arms full of groceries isn’t fun unless you’re part of the audience. Replace batteries in flashlights, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and make sure there are flashlights in every room, should the power go out you’ll never be without light.
9. Aerate and Reseed Lawn – With the extreme drought, lawns – or the dirt patch that was once a lawn, needs care more than ever. With the predicted El Nino, there may be an opportunity to have a luscious healthy lawn once more. Aeration and over seeding in the fall can help immensely. Visit True Value to learn the proper steps in bringing life back to your lawn. For tips and proper care techniques visit
10. Emergency Planning – Always to remember to have a family emergency plan in place in the event a disaster strikes. You can get more information on how to create your plan on
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