Winterize Your Westchester Home

What you want most at this time of the year is to be warm, cozy & safe in your home during the winter. To add warmth & color year-round consider paint, accessories & plants.

Seal drafts around windows and doors. Even if you put on weatherstripping in the fall, there may be places where cold air is still sneaking in. If you feel a draft, track it to its source and block it with weatherstripping or a draft snake to keep your home cozy and energy bills lower. If that’s still not working you may want to consider new windows now or in the spring.

Redecorate and Remodeling. The kitchen is an important room in the home. Update your cabinets in a fresh white or restain the cabinets. Update the backsplash & paint in a warm tone. Now is also a great time to do interior painting and updates. Consider finishing the basement or adding built-ins to the family room so that everything has a place.

Check batteries in safety devices. Batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors should be checked monthly, but it’s more important than ever during winter when we tend to keep windows closed (and the heat on)more often.

Has the chimney been cleaned before use? If you haven’t done so yet, be sure to schedule an appointment with a licensed chimney sweep to clean your wood-burning fireplace or woodstove before building fire this winter.

Prepare for winter storms. Gather your snow shovels, winter gloves, pet- and plant-safe ice melt or sand, and ice scrapers, and store them where you can access them easily. A roof rake is a handy addition to the snow-removing arsenal — use it to gently remove snow from your roof to help prevent ice dams. If you expect a heavy snowfall, use reflective markers to flag the edges of your lawn and driveway.

Keep paths clear of ice and snow. Remove snow and ice from paths and sidewalks after storms. If you plan to travel during the winter, hire a snow-removal service to keep the sidewalk in front of your home cleaned while you are away. Your neighbors will appreciate it, and it will give your home a lived-in appearance, which can help deter crime.

Be sure your home is ready for guests. Touch up scuff marks. Put a fresh color in the family room. Take care of any repairs near the entry or in high traffic areas. Tight on time? Take advantage of the special winter rates Korth & Shannahan Painting and Carpentry is offering. Voted Best General Contractor by Westchester Magazine.