Clean or replace the furnace filter before the cold settles
Heating season is underway in cold country, and a clogged filter is the first thing to rule out when a room stays cold. Note the size on the frame.
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Who
- DIY
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Home maintenance calendar
Month-by-month tasks for ordinary homes. Filter by the kind of home you have and the climate you live in. It opens on a Mountain West, cold-winter view. This is general guidance, not a substitute for a licensed pro or your local code.
Honey-Do Weekly · November · House · Cold winter
November
7 tasks · House · Cold winter
Freeze prep where winters are real, and drains where the rain is. The Saturday email this month is usually about both.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Test them before guests and holidays fill the house. Press the button. A chirp that returns after a battery change can mean the unit itself is at the end of its life. Check the date on the back.
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Who
- DIY
Show everyone in the home where the main water shutoff is
In a leak, the shutoff is the whole emergency plan. Open the closet or the meter door, point at the valve, and turn it slightly so you know it moves. Label it if it is easy to miss.
- Time
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Who
- DIY
Cover or drain outdoor faucets before a hard freeze
A hose left on is the usual reason a frost-proof faucet still bursts. Remove hoses, drain the line if you have an indoor valve, and cover the faucet if a freeze is coming.
- Time
- 20–40 minutes
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Who
- DIY
Clear gutters and downspouts before they freeze full
Ice in a clogged gutter is heavy and it dams meltwater. Clean them on a dry day or hire the job. Do not walk a frosty roof.
- Time
- 1–2 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Who
- DIY or pro
Look at the attic hatch for obvious drafts
From the ladder, feel for cold air around the hatch and look for daylight at vents. Do not step off the joists. If insulation is damp or packed into the soffit vents, stop and ask a pro. Blocking those vents causes ice problems.
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Who
- DIY
Dry window tracks if condensation is heavy
Morning water on the glass means indoor moisture is high. Run fans, and wipe the tracks so they do not stay wet. A little ventilation on a dry day helps more than a scented candle.
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Who
- DIY
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