Tips for Winter Prep in Vermont

With the last of the leaves falling off the trees, it's time to start thinking about what starts falling next...snow! Many people don't put much thought into the changing seasons beyond breaking out their winter coats and hats, but in Vermont, it's essential to think of a few more things before the snow flies to keep you and your home safe. 

October is the best time to start ticking winterization items off your list. Some things you can start earlier in the season, but if you haven't addressed the items listed below, now is the time to get started. Take a stroll around your house and make a list of winter-prep to-dos followed by a list of whatever supplies you might need to make those projects happen. Our list below may not cover everything you might need, but it's a good start. Let's dive in!

Indoors 

Heating

Now's the time to turn up the dial on your thermostat. Set it to 80 degrees to make sure the furnace turns on. Feel your vents and confirm that hot air is moving. Once satisfied, dial the temperature back to a comfortable level and move on to assess your air filters. If you haven't regularly checked your filters before, now is the time to look behind a vent grill or on the heating system itself. If anything doesn't sound right or the heat doesn't turn on easily, it's time to call a reputable HVAC contractor to assess your system and provide a diagnosis. Contact your local gas or oil company to schedule routine tank refills as well, and ensure that your heat is always set for 55 degrees or higher to prevent pipes from freezing on cold days while you are away.

Fireplaces and Woodstoves

First things first, get that chimney cleaned before your next fire-burning season. Doing this helps prevent house fires by eliminating built-up soot and creosote, a thick, oily residue much like tar that builds up after long periods of wood burning. Next, find someone who will deliver the proper amount of wood (about two cords) by mid-fall, so you have time to stack and prep. Most companies will dump the wood on your property, leaving you (or your kids!) responsible for stacking. Also, know your woods! "Green" means that the wood is not dry and will be difficult to start fires with because it may need more time to dry out. "Seasoned" or "dry" means that the logs have been adequately dried and are ready to heat your home right away.

Safety

While you're in home heating and woodstove mode, take a minute to check on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. We jump through hurdles to seal a house up each winter, making the risk of carbon monoxide that much more significant. Wood burning fireplaces and a cranked thermostat further increase the risk of fire. Walk around the house and test your detectors, adding new batteries as necessary. 

Another safety side note worth mentioning is the importance of personal safety. Keep a set of crampons or microspikes handy to slip over standard boots or shoes on snowy, icy days. These will help with traction and prevent hard falls or slips. Don't be afraid to ask friends to help if you are uncomfortable driving in the snow or explore public transportation options; it's important to know your limits and not push them on a bad weather day if you don't have to. 

Efficiency

Check windows and doors for air leaks. These pesky gaps and cracks can drive up winter fuel costs. Simple fixes like adding weatherstripping to your door jam or caulking old window frames will significantly reduce your heating bill. Go a step further and seal your windows with a window insulator kit. Simply pulling the blinds closed will add another layer of insulation and costs nothing at all.

Keep moving around the house and check the foundation, chimney, skylights, and siding for more air leaks. If you don't have a digital thermometer handy (like the kind many of us bought for COVID), use a candle and watch for a flame blowing inward when you move the candle to a potential leak. Then, apply caulking or insulation and call it a day. 

Outdoors 

Schedule Snow Removal

If you’ll be needing snow removal, book your plow person or landscape company as soon as possible. They can get swamped, so getting on their books early is critical. Also, be sure to specify whether you need your walks or drive sanded or shoveled as well. 

Roof

Inspect the roof for any clear signs of trouble. "Trouble" may include cracked or curling shingles, missing pieces of slate, worn-out flashing, and cracked caulking. A roof repair is much easier to fix this time of year than in the middle of winter. If you don't feel comfortable climbing a ladder, pull out a pair of binoculars and inspect the roof from afar. Clear the gutters and downspouts as well to ensure water moves freely down the roof and away from your foundation. 

If you noticed icicles and snow building up on the eaves of your roof last winter, now's the time to check the insulation and venting in your attic. The best way to prevent ice dams is to keep your roof cold. You can achieve this by plugging gaps in the insulation and adding soffit vents along the eaves.  Once winter hits and the snow starts to accumulate, these thick layers of ice build-up can cause roof leaks and interior water damage if they are not broken up and removed. 

Check for Critter Entry

Inspect attic vents and garage siding to make sure critters won't be able to call your place home this winter. Patch any gaps or holes in eaves and siding with steel wool. Once you plug the gap, apply caulking around the steel wool to secure it. If the holes are a bit larger, try using lath screen or lath metal, cement, hardware cloth, or metal sheeting, which you can find at your local hardware store. 

Tree Branches

Snow and ice combined, with heavy winds, could spell disaster this winter. Check trees around your property for signs of health. Trim back any branches that could pose a threat to your roof, siding, or powerlines. Light maintenance this time of year could save you thousands of dollars in damage come February or March. 

Exterior Faucets

Turn off the water supply to exterior faucets, disconnect garden hoses, and drain the faucet of any residual water. Frozen pipes cause easily preventable problems. 

Lawn Furniture and Equipment

Store or cover your patio furniture to prevent unnecessary damage from snow build-up. If you don't have the space to store the furniture inside, arrange it in one location and cover it with a tarp to prevent high winter winds from blowing it all over your backyard. Secure the tarp with straps or bungees. 

Winterize your lawnmower and other gas equipment by draining the gas tank and storing it in the back of your garage. While you're back there, bring the snowblower to the front and grab your ice scraper and snow shovels. There's nothing worse than digging yourself out after scavenging the garage looking for your equipment. Finally, check that the snowblower turns over and is topped off with fresh gas for the winter.  

Tire Changeover

Now is also the best time to schedule a visit to your local garage to swap your all-season tires out with your winter set. It is better to be a little early and prepared for the first big storm rather than scheduling weeks out when the rest of the state realizes they need to do the same! Yes, you do need a set of winter tires, and no, all-season tires won't cut it. Studded winter tires are best if you plan to make many trips to the mountain or explore less frequently maintained roads. Also, remember to fill your wiper fluid, stash an effective ice scraper, and store a brush in your trunk to clear your car off on snowy days. It's also wise to have a small shovel in the trunk in case you find yourself stuck in deeper snow and need to dig yourself out.

Vermont has been known to grace us with a snowstorm before November, so getting all this taken care of while it’s still mild out is key. We hope you stay safe and warm this winter! 

If you're gearing up for winter, check out the rest of our winter blog series:
How to Prepare Your Home for Winter
Don't Overlook Your Dryer Vent This Winter
How to Prevent (and Fix) Frozen Pipes