Annual Winter Checklist for Anchorage & Mat-Su Homeowners:

Assuming you’ve sealed your home for air leaks and maximized your home’s energy efficiency the year before, here’s a list of tasks Southcentral Alaska homeowners should complete every fall:

Scheduling Contractors:

• Schedule your annual maintenance for your mechanical systems (furnaces, boilers, garage heaters, air quality systems, etc.) with your friends at KLEBS Heating. 
• Have dryer vents cleaned out. 
• Have sprinkler systems blown out.
• Renew your snowplowing contract and/or have your snowblower tuned up.

Outdoor Tasks:

• Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses.
• Clear gutters and downspouts. (And fix any leaks.)
• Have sprinkler systems blown out.
• Replace window screens with storm windows.
• Check for garage door air leaks; replace seals and/or make mechanical adjustments as needed.
• Mark your driveway for the snowplower.
• Cover air conditioning units.
• Set up your vehicle plug-in system. 
• Get snow shovel(s) and/or snowblower in position.
• Get fuel for snowblower and/or generator.

Indoor Tasks

• Change furnace filters (and stock-up).
• Check/reset your thermostat(s).
• Install window insulation kit(s)
• Inspect and replace door sweeps as needed.
• Set ceiling fans to counter-clockwise rotation.
• Check and freshen up your emergency kit (new batteries, rotate out food supplies, etc.)
• Fill emergency water jugs.
• Test your freeze / leak alarm systems (change batteries if needed).