You should do these things around your home before the end of November

We’re still in the middle of the fall season, but you know the big temperature drop is right around the corner. And that means snow is on the way. Is your home ready?

There are plenty of home maintenance tasks you should have been completing through September and October, so your home should be in decent shape by now. But there are a few things to take care of in November to ensure your family is cozy and warm through the winter. 

Here are a few things you should do around your home in November, according to Tarion Warranty Corporation. 

Check attic

When was the last time you popped up into your attic? You should do a thorough walk around your attic because if you have a small leak in your roof, it could be damaging your home and you don’t even know it. If you do discover water damage or maybe some damage caused by a critter, you’re going to want to fix it up before it gets colder. 

As the weather cools down, your roof will get hit by freezing rain and snow, and that will end up in your attic, potentially causing major damage. Critters also seek out warm places to hide from the cold, and your attic is pretty tempting at this time of year. 

Inspect floor drains 

It may come as a surprise, but some people don’t even know about their floor drains. Go into the basement and you should find a floor drain, likely in the utility room. The trap should have water in it. This water stops sewer gas from entering your home. If there’s no water, you’re going to notice a funky smell. If you want to keep the trap from drying out, some say adding a bit of cooking oil to the water can prevent evaporation. 

Clean furnace filter and HRV

If you don’t mind the cold, you may not have the heater on yet. For some, this is perfect window-open weather. If you’re not one of these people, you’ll likely be flipping on the heat soon (if you haven’t already). You should make sure your filter and HRV are clean. It’s easy to clean these filters. Just turn off the unit, remove the filter, vacuum it, rinse with warm water, and then lay it out to dry. A clean filter will allow your furnace to work properly.

Check for condensation and humidity  

When the temperature goes down outside, your window temperature will drop. When moist air comes in contact with your cold windows, water droplets will form. You want to avoid excessive humidity in your home because it can create the perfect environment for mold to form. The winter can be dry, but with your humidifier and the heat on, your home could be too humid. Keep this in mind throughout the season!

And as always, reset and test your GFCI, and make sure the batteries are still good in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. 

We hope these tips help you get your home ready for winter!