Is Your Bend Oregon Home Ready for Winter?

For those of us who lived through the winter of 2017 in Central Oregon, we remember how winter weather can be hazardous to your home. When the temperature drops and snow accumulates, having prepared your home can ensure you and your property remain safe and warm throughout the winter.

Here are some of the best tips to get your home ready for winter:

1. Blow out sprinklers and turn the system off.
2. Store hoses in the garage and install covers over your outdoor faucets.
3. Store patio furniture in dry location.
4. Seal cracks around doors and windows.
5. Clean your rain gutters and ensure they are working well.
6. Have your roof and chimney inspected by a professional and the chimney cleaned.
7. Make sure your attic space is sufficiently insulated to help avoid heat loss and ice dams.
8. Have your furnace serviced.
9. Prune your bushes and trees and clean up any yard debris.
10. Drain and refill your hot water heater.
11. Install foundation vent covers and keep them on throughout the winter.
12. Lube your garage door moving parts.
13. Tune up your electrical panel.
14. Clean your dryer vents.
15. If your property has been prone to ice dams in the past, consider installing heating strips on the roof eaves.
16. Line up snow shovels and snow blowers early.
17. Have window scrapers, gloves and snow boots ready to go.
18. Make sure you have sufficient batteries, flashlights and lanterns in the event of a prolonged power outage.
19. When the snow starts falling, keep your roof from accumulating too much snow which can result in ice dams. 

Although heavy snow accumulation in Bend is not a normal occurrence, we have had a couple of exceptional winters in the last few years. Heavy snow can happen again. But by preparing for it ahead of time, the need to mitigate its impact on your home can be greatly diminished and your enjoyment of winter significantly increased.