The Time To Get Ready For Winter Is Now Buffalo

No matter what way you swing it, or how you decide to frame it, there is one thing that is for certain in Western New York and that is the fact that winter is coming.

Since we know that winter is coming, and with the prospects that we're looking at a pretty bad winter, this makes now the best time to make sure you are starting your winter preparations now. We don't want to wait until the last minute to try and get the house ready and gather all the supplies we'll need to make it through another Buffalo winter.

So if you're like me and you want to stay ready, here are a few tips of steps you should take to be ready for the snow and cold.

Buffalo Pre-Winter Checklist

Since we've established that the cold air is going to blow into Buffalo regardless of what we do, the best way to get ahead of it is to do the things on this this fall.

Foundation Condition Check

When was the last time you took a walk around BOTH your basement and your home’s perimeter walls looking for any sign of cracking or leaking? This year? 5 years ago? 10? Most people find out their foundations are in need of repair AFTER something catastrophic happens. Why wait till then? There is so much wetness in the fall and early winter that this is the perfect time to repair cracks in your foundation walls or water/dampness on your basement floor. Doing this now may help you keep a minor repair from turning into a major repair.

Gutter Downspouts

Once you finish walking around the foundation, this is also the perfect time to make sure your gutters and downspouts are in good working order. Getting rainwater and snow melt away from your house and foundation will go a long way to ensure the long-term stability of your house.

Chimney Flashing

Since you'll already be on the roof looking at your gutters, why not check the condition of your roof to make sure there aren't any spots where a leak can get in? The flashing on the roof may have separated allowing water (or melting ice) to leak into your home, so get that checked as well.

Furnace, Hot Water Tank, and AC

This is the exact time of year when we find out that there is a problem with our heating system, right when we turn the furnace on for the first time when the temperature drops. Don't get caught in the cold, find a professional to come to give your HVAC system a once-over to make sure it's in good working order.

Backup Power

Winter weather sometimes can bring power outages with it. One way to make sure you're all set this winter is to have some sort of backup power or generator on hand.

What are some other things that you can think of that we should do around the house to get ready for winter?