Though it is just around the corner, there are plenty of steps that you can take to get your home ready for winter. This way, you can ensure you and your entire family are as comfortable as possible throughout the festive season! 

With that in mind, here are some tips that you can follow to ensure that you are as prepared as possible! 

• Check your heating system Get your furnace inspected and tuned up by a professional. You can also change the filter halfway through the winter.  
• Seal leaks Check for leaks around windows and doors, and seal them with caulk, foam, or weatherstripping. You can also add storm doors to exterior doors.  
• Insulate Check your attic insulation and add insulation to pipes that run through exterior walls.  
• Test detectors Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace batteries if needed. Alarms that are older than 10 years should be replaced.  
• Clean Clean your gutters, chimney, and HVAC vents. You can also clean tile grout and dryer filters.  
• Check your roof Have your roof inspected for damage. You can also check that trees that overhang your roof don’t have dead branches.  If you notice any major issues with your roof, be sure to reach out to an experienced local roofer who can safely carry out this work on your behalf. After all, working at heights can be incredibly dangerous, especially if it’s frosty outside.
• Prepare for power outages Stock up on nonperishable food, bottled water, and batteries. If you have a generator, schedule maintenance so that everything is in working order when power is needed.  
• Prepare your lawn Trim trees and turn off watering systems. You can also store your lawnmower and weed eater in a garage or shed, and maintain them.  
• Prepare your pool If you have a pool, make sure your equipment is ready to circulate the water when temperatures get low.  
• Use ceiling fans In the winter, switch your ceiling fan blades to clockwise rotation on the lowest setting to push warm air down.  
• Mark your driveway Use snow poles or driveway markers to mark the edges of your driveway, walkways, and flower beds.  
• Take good care of your pipes. Taking good care of your pipes is also essential in the run-up to winter, especially if you don’t want to be caught without hot water at the time when you’ll need it most. This means that you should take the opportunity now to assess your pipes for any signs of damage, such as leaks or blockages. For minor leaks, you may benefit from using DIY tools such as plumber tape, though this is usually only a temporary situation until a time wherein you are able to call in a plumber for assistance. In Texas, pipes are not equipped for really cold temperatures, so wrap them to keep them from freezing.
• Look forward to holiday and family traditions that the winter months brings! Winter can be a dark time of year and adding bright, cheery decorations and staying active can boost your mood and add magic to sometimes dull time. Remember that traditions don’t need to be expensive, just personal and meaningful to you and your loved ones.

In short, there are many things that you can do to get your home ready for winter – ensuring that your holiday season is as magical and stress-free as possible. 

If you want to get your wardrobe ready for winter, check out my post on capsule outerwear.