Winter. You know when it rolls around, you feel that slight change in the air, the cooler breeze making you shiver and add another layer, and pretty soon summer has signalled its exit and autumn is setting the tone for the end of the year.

Right now is the ideal time to get out into your yard, deal with all of the summer fun you’ve been having, and pack it all away so you’re not greeted with a hot mess come April and a massive clean-up job to get your yard ready to use again for the next summer.

Check out how you can prepare your yard for winter with ease to tick off your to-do list.

Clear The Leftovers

You want to start with anything that is dying, drooping, or beyond saving. Get rid of it now, before things get any worse. This is your old annuals, spent blooms, and tangled vines. They all need to go now. Pull up whatever you can and compost it; don’t just leave them to rot in place over the winter. Rake any leaves as well and give any pots or planters a good scrub when they’ve been emptied and store them upside down somewhere dry, especially ceramic ones, as water can freeze inside and crack the pots.

Protection Matters

Anything in your yard you want to keep and that cannot be stored somewhere away from the elements needs to be protected. Whether it’s via adding a layer of mulch to the roots of perennials or using a winter fleece to protect plants, get the protection where it’s needed sooner, not later.

Don’t forget any furniture you have that needs to stay out, too, ie, pool covers, furniture covers, etc. Get them out and cover whatever needs covering before the weather changes, so everything has the extra protection it needs to survive the cold weather.

Clean the Pool

Now is the perfect time to have your pool cleaned before you retire it for the year. In most places, pools are already being closed off due to dropping temperatures, but taking the time to scoop any bugs or leaves out or cleaning the water with a vacuum can be massively beneficial. You can hire pool cleaning services to give your pool a good, deep clean prior to it being closed off for the winter, so you know everything has been taken care of before you cover it. You’ll be grateful you did come next pool season.

Secure It All

Ideally, you want to be putting as much away as possible to protect it over the winter. But if that’s not possible, look at what might need securing during the colder months. For example, if you live in an area that experiences high winds through winter or massive amounts of snowfall, can you secure items in place by tying them down, attaching them to something else, or tethering them? If they have covers or protective layers over them, are these secure so they can withstand the winds and not blow against the house or cause damage to the neighboring properties? Take a minute to check everything is safe and secure, and nothing is at risk.

Winter isn’t here just yet, but it’s just around the corner. You want your home to be good and ready for heavy snowstorms and the bitter cold. So, don’t wait for weeks to go by — get started on these three chores before the season gets any closer. 

Check Your Windows for Air Leaks:

Nothing will ruin your night like a winter chill forcing its way into your bedroom while you’re trying to sleep. You’ll find yourself shivering no matter how many blankets you pile on. Before the nights get too cold, you should check your windows for air leaks. Try one of these methods:

• Use your hand to feel any drafts coming through gaps in the frame
• Hold a lit stick of incense by the glass to see if the smoke blows inward
• Hire a professional to conduct an energy audit

If you find drafts, you can apply exterior caulking to your window frames to plug up any small gaps that the wind can push through. Then, check the windows again for any leaks. The caulking should be the perfect barrier to keep the cold out. 

Test out Your Heating System:

Turn up your thermostat and see if your rooms are heating up properly. You don’t want to realize that the appliance is dying when you’re in the middle of a cold snap. Better yet, call in one of the experts from the Edmonton Reliance team to give your furnace a tune-up. If they notice that the appliance can’t be salvaged, their home comfort advisors will help you find an affordable, effective and energy-efficient replacement. If you don’t want to commit to buying a new furnace, you can always rent one. You should visit Reliancehomecomfort.com/edmonton/ to see whether buying or renting works better with your budget.

A high-quality heating system will do more than save you from the chill. It will trim down your winter hydro bills, too. You can talk to the home comfort advisors about getting a different thermostat for your home system. They carry the best smart thermostats on the market like Nest and ecobee so that you can stay comfortable without wasting energy. 

Winterize Your A/C Unit:

You should protect your air conditioning unit from the cold, snow and ice, which can cause permanent damage and shorten its lifespan. It’s not like you’ll need to use it any time soon. The first step to winterizing your A/C unit is washing off the dirt and grimy build-up coating the exterior. Simple dish soap and water will do the trick. When it’s dry, wrap the exposed pipes with strips of foam to insulate them from the cold temperatures. And then, put a waterproof cover over the entire unit to protect it from moisture.

Before you worry about fall chores like raking the leaves off of your lawn or putting up holiday decorations, you need to think about more important tasks like checking for air leaks, testing your heating system or winterizing your A/C unit. These will make sure your house is prepared for the colder months ahead.