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).