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Your Must-Have Winter Prep Checklist

Plymouth Tenant Mowing the Lawn in FallThe weather is already beginning to get cooler; this is a sign that winter is just around the corner. A change in season brings different events and tasks; but, one thing you have to take note of is preparing your home for winter. What every Plymouth rental home requires is seasonal maintenance to keep it nice and in good condition. When should you get ready for a new season? Way before it actually comes. While some winterization tasks are best left to your landlord or a professional, you can take the initiative by making sure your home is 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. Do this and you essentially protect and improve your unit, making sure it maintains its performance. 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 yours is a window unit, make sure you seal all your vents and, if possible, cover all of them.

Heating System

With winter approaching, it’s important to fire up your furnace for a test run long before you need it. Turn the furnace on and inspect if everything is working properly. 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, it’s likely that you have to prepare it first before using it. Make it a point to clean your chimney, for example. If the chimney is not cleaned, then inform your landlord so that you can request a cleaning to be scheduled. This is even more important if you think 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 are just a few steps you can take to make sure that your plumbing functions correctly all throughout winter.

Windows & Doors

A few things to look out for when temperatures drop low are drafts and air leaks. If you want to handle them before they become major problems, make sure to check your home’s doors and windows for gaps, cracks, and air leaks. The majority of air leaks around doors and windows can be fixed with some caulk or weather stripping. If the air leaks don’t point to an apparent source, it should lead you to reach out to your landlord so that it can be checked by a professional.

Yard & Patio

And, remember to get your yard, patio, or deck ready for the winter, too. Autumn is an excellent 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 – preserve their condition by taking good care of them.

 

It can get a bit exhausting to get your home ready for winter. But, once the cold temperatures arrive, it would have been well worth all the effort put in. But if the winters in your current rental home are becoming too much to bear, then maybe moving is something to be considered. Check out the available rental listings that Real Property Management Fidelis has to offer.

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