December Home Maintenance Checklist

Use this December Home Maintenance Checklist to get your home ready for winter and to protect your family.

COMPLETE DEEP DUSTING

  • Change Air Filters
  • Make sure you dust. With the furnace on and a lot of activities indoors in the winter months dust from the summer and fall get stuck in small areas.
  • Wipe down light switches, dust your lamps, ceiling fans and give your baseboards a solid dusting.

CHECK ALL OUTDOOR LIGHTS

  • Clean Rain Gutters
  • Make sure all of your outdoor lights are working. It gets darker earlier and the weather conditions can be treacherous.
  • Make sure you can see your walkways clearly.
  • Check your outdoor garage lighting.
  • Consider installing outdoor solar lights with motion detector features.

CAULK SHOWER

  • Caulk your shower. Mold and grime get into the crevices and pose health dangers.
  • Check to make sure your showers and bathtubs are adequately caulked to prevent water damage.

CLEAN RANGEHOOD

  • The stove and oven are getting a lot of use during the holidays.
  • Your range hood funnels out fumes and odors out of your home. Not only is a dirty hood unsightly but it can be dangerous.

CAULK TOILETS TO THE FLOOR

  • Caulking your toilet to the floor minimized odors. It also keeps your toilet secure.

CHECK FLASHLIGHTS

  • Winter is known for power outages. Now is a good time to check all your flashlights and batteries. Make sure you have plenty of extra batteries on hand.
  • With nightfall arriving early in the Winter make sure you’re prepared for those extra hours of darkness. Keep a few extra flashlights on hand.

STORE WATER

  • Now is a great time to stock up on drinking water. Wintertime pipes freeze. You want to ensure you have plenty of drinking water on hand in the event of an emergency.
  • Be prepared and keep water on hand. Most grocery stores have water dispensers that allow you to fill your own jugs.

STORE CANNED AND DRY FOOD

  • Winter brings with it storms, power outages and nature can interrupt our daily life.
  • Make sure you have canned and dried food on hand in the event of an emergency.

CHECK ATTIC INSULATION

  • Make sure your home is well insulated. Proper insulation can help lower your heating bill. One of the biggest culprits of a high heating bill is inadequate attic insulation.
  • You can also hire a professional to assess your attic. It’s a great investment for peace of mind.
  • Taking measures to adequately insulate your attic can pay you great dividends.