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Shannon Watters

Preparing your Home for a Cold Minnesota Winter

As a Realtor®, Master Naturalist, Director with the National Loon Center Foundation and Whitefish Area Property Owners Association. I’m committed to providing my clients with the best real estate knowledge and service to help meet their buying and selling goals as well as equipping them with best stewardship knowledge and community connection to thrive for years to come.





Hello everyone!! October 23, 2024

We have been lucky with a long and beautiful fall here in Minnesota. But we all know that the weather can change quickly and fiercely. Here are a few tips to help make sure it is a warm and safe winter for you and your home:


Sealing Air Leaks

Windows, doors, and their trim work are great at inviting cold, outside air into your home. Use the flicker of a candle or the back of your hand to find places where cold air is leaking in (and where your precious heat is escaping!).

Use a caulking to seal any gaps around windows and trim. For leaky doors, use felt or foam weather stripping and door sweeps. These are all cheap and easy to work with.

Shut Off Water to Hoses

When water sits in pipes that lead to the outside, cold temps can freeze, expand, and burst the pipe, turning your basement into an unwanted swimming pool. Find the valves of the pipes leading to your outside faucets (they’ll be inside your home near the main water shutoff valve) and turn them off. Then drain the water from the faucet on the side of your house. Leave the faucet open.

Close Chimney Damper

When you’re not using your wood-burning fireplace, close the chimney damper to prevent drafts of cold air from coming into your home. You should also have your chimney inspected and cleaned to prevent fire damage during those cozy winter evenings by the fireplace.

Insulate Pipes in Cold Areas

Add insulation sleeves over water pipes in cold areas of your home, like the attic, basement, and crawl spaces. When these water pipes get too cold, they can freeze and burst.

Change Furnace Air Filter

A clean air filter can keep warm air moving and energy costs down. Replace your furnace filter before winter (every 3 months during the warm seasons) and every month throughout the winter.

Program Your Thermostat

Programming your thermostat can also bring down your energy costs. Set your daytime temp to a comfortable level (68F to 75F is often preferred) and a lower temperature at night when you’re bundled up in bed (maybe around 60F to 68F). If the house is empty during the work or school day, program a lower temp then as well.

Air Exchanger

Air exchangers should be run during heating season. There is a screen on the exterior of the house, make sure it is clean and not clogged up with spider webs, pollen, etc. Inside the housing of the air exchanger are two filters (typically), make sure they are clean based upon manufacturer instructions. Typically they can be hand washed and thoroughly air-dried. Also make sure the drain is not clogged. Set the air exchanger at 35-40% humidity. Do not use your exchanger for the purpose of circulating the air in the home. Your furnace is much more efficient and equipped to circulate air.

Reverse Ceiling Fans

Many homeowners don’t realize that ceiling fans have two spinning options: clockwise and counterclockwise. Your fan should spin clockwise during the winter to allow warm air above your head to be pulled down, and counterclockwise in the summer so cold air at your feet rises up.

Check the center of your fan for a small switch to change the spin when the temperatures start dropping.

Stock Up for the Snow

It’s hard to drive to the store to buy a shovel when your driveway is buried under 4 feet of snow. Head to the store early to get your winter gear if you don’t have them already:

  • Ice-melting sidewalk salt

  • Snow shovels

  • Car window scrapers

  • Snow shoveling apparel (boots, gloves, mittens, hot cocoa)

  • Winter windshield wiper fluid

  • A snow blower (and gas, oil, spark plug, etc.)

 

 

Preparing your outdoors for winter

Have Your Sprinkler System Drained

If you have an in-ground sprinkler system, have your pipes drained and prepped for the winter. This is different than draining your outside faucets, so be sure to do both!

Prepping a sprinkler system is usually better left to a professional, but the labor costs are much lower than renovating a flooded basement.

Check The Roof for Damage

Take a look at your roof. See if you have any missing or damaged shingles or flashing, or drill holes that haven’t been sealed. Any puncture in your roofing can lead to leads and mold.

Clean Your Gutters

Once the leaves stop falling, grab a ladder (and any necessary safety equipment) and clean those gutters. Since leaves and debris will impede water flow in gutters, any melting snow will quickly form icicles. Falling water also damages grass and sidewalks.

Store Away Outdoor Items

Pack up outdoor furniture, hoses, and decorations that can get damaged in the cold temps and snow. Don’t forget about seasonal plants in the garden, and draining the gas out of your mower. or add stabilizer so it is fresher in the spring.

Review Winter Emergency Plans

When a pipe bursts and is flooding the basement, seconds count. This makes it important for you and your family to know what to do in case of a winter emergency.

Make sure every occupant knows where the main water shutoff valve is and how to turn it. You should also have a list of emergency water damage and storm damage contractors ready to call if disaster happens.

Trim Tree Branches

Are any tree branches swaying dangerously close to your roof or siding? Strong winter winds and heavy snow can easily give tree branches extra space to swing, so trim them to be about 3 to 8 away from your home.

Cover Vents to Prevent Nesting

Birds and small animals love to find warm places in the winter to call their winter get-away. Make sure you have possible entrances blocked off:

  • Dryer vent

  • Bathroom exhaust vents

  • Stove exhaust vent

  • Chimney

  • Attic vents and windows

If you need a contractor to help with any of these tasks, reach out. I have a list of fantastic folks to help get you and your home ready for the upcoming season.

 

Following are some great trivia questions and answers from our October Trivia events:

Please come join us on Thursday, November 5 at Red Pine Cookhouse in Emily and November 14 at 14 Lakes Brewery. Both Events are from 6-8 pm.


1. What are each of the sounds Loons make (while they are in their breeding territories).

2.      Who was the US President that had a pet alligator that he kept in the Whitehouse bath tub?

  • John Quincy Adams


3. What is the leading cause of Loon mortality in the US?

  • Lead poisoning

4.     what color is the black box on an airplane?

  • Orange


5.      What is it called when a bowler makes three strikes in a row?

  • Turkey


6. True or false: Loons swallow small rocks and pebbles to digest their food

  • True (and that is why it is important to not use lead ammunition, sinkers or tackle)


7. what do you call a group of witches?

  •  Coven


Experience the ultimate convenience and luxury with this stunning fully-furnished property, meticulously designed to provide an unparalleled level of comfort.

Situated in a prime location, it offers access to endless amenities at a remarkable price point that won't break your budget.

Embrace the simplicity of low maintenance living as you start enjoying life here today!    ✨


 


This is a fantastic recipe given to me by a dear friend. Everything she makes is GOLDEN! I'm excited to try it!! Thank you Ruth!!




 


WAPOA and Loon Center Community Events:

November 7 - Loon and Lakes Trivia at Red Pine Cookhouse Emily 6-8 pm

November 14 - Loon and Lakes Trivia at 14 Lakes Brewery 6-8 pm December 5 - Loon and Lakes Trivia at Red Pine Cookhouse Emily 6-8 pm


If you have a recipe, tip or question about real estate, nature or community, send us a note:



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