As much as we have been enjoying the beautiful, warm weather, we know that winter is coming and with it – cold temperatures. Preparing for winter means ensuring that the items around the yard, the house or an apartment are ready for the winter season. While the preparations may have become routine, it is important to be mindful that these tasks might be challenging for your loved ones, especially if they are recovering from surgery or struggling with health complications.
Here is an easy checklist you can use before the cold weather gets here to help you ensure that your loved ones are ready for winter.
Check the heating source
Most of our homes are heated by a gas furnace, with some exceptions for baseboard heaters or radiators. So before it gets too cold, it is a good idea to have a service technician come out and take a look at the heating source of their home. The last thing you want is a furnace breaking down when it is freezing outside. If your loved ones live in an apartment, it is important to check that the heating is working. Whether your loved ones live in a home or an apartment, it is always important to ensure that they have a portable electric heater just in case.
Take all the outdoor furniture inside
If your loved ones have a patio or balcony furniture to enjoy the outdoors in the summer, take some time to bring it all inside or ensure it is securely put away or protected before the snow comes. It might be a good idea to wrap the heavy furniture or get somebody to help carry it safely in.
Check all the batteries
While not something that is specific to the winter season, it is always a good idea to check the batteries in the home when the seasons change. This includes batteries in all the smoke detectors and any carbon monoxide detectors – and test to make sure they are working properly.
Test the snowblower
If your loved ones have a long driveway, or they live in an area that gets a lot of snow, you may want to test out the snowblower, if they have one, before the snow actually gets here. The snowblower may need some maintenance to ensure that it is working properly when it is needed. You should also encourage your loved ones to stock up on rock salt to ensure that their steps and driveway stay safe for walking.
Drain and disconnect any hoses
Making sure there is no water left in the outdoor hoses will help protect the hose from freezing and could prevent any pipes from bursting. Also, try to make sure that all the hoses are disconnected and brought into the house or stored in a shed or garage.
Clean out gutters
Chances are, leaves and debris have built up in the gutters over the summer and fall. Before the start of winter, it is important to have someone come in and clean out the gutters or – if you feel comfortable with it – you could help your loved ones out and do this for them. Clean gutters will help prevent water back up and help avoid potential water damage and water leaks from developing.
Contact VERA Home Care today
If you have a loved one who could use some personal care, help around the house, or just companionship this winter, home care can be a good solution.
Contact us today to learn how we can help!