5 Tips to Prepare Your Summit County, Colorado Mountain Home for Winter
Here in Summit County, Colorado, we love our winters. The snow-capped peaks, the crisp mountain air, the endless outdoor activities… there’s just something about winter that makes us feel alive. But as much as we love it, winter can be a tough season on our homes. That’s why it’s important to take the time to prepare your mountain home for the long winter months ahead. Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Read on for our top tips on how to prepare your Summit County, Colorado mountain home for winter.
1. Inspect Your Roof and Gutters
The first step in preparing your mountain home for winter is to inspect your roof and gutters. In the high country, we get a lot of heavy snowfall, and that snow can put a lot of strain on your roof and gutters. So before the snow starts flying, take the time to clear out any leaves or debris from your gutters and inspect your roof for any loose or missing shingles. If you spot any damage, now is the time to make repairs. Trust us, you don’t want to wait until the middle of a snowy winter night to discover a leak in your roof!
2. Service Your Heating Equipment
Next on our list is servicing your heating equipment. Whether you have a furnace, a boiler, or a wood-burning stove, it’s important to have it serviced by a professional before the start of winter. This will help ensure that your heating equipment is operating safely and efficiently all winter long.
3. Winterize Your Plumbing
Another important step in preparing your mountain home for winter is winterizing your plumbing. This helps prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting when temperatures plummet.
How to winterize your plumbing:
- Insulate all exposed pipes, including those in the basement and attic.
- Drain all outdoor faucets and hose connections.
- Bring in all hoses and store them indoors.
- Close all vents around the foundation of your home.
- Open cabinet doors in kitchens and bathrooms to let warm air circulate around plumbing.
- Winterize your well: when the temperatures start to drop, it's time to start thinking about how to winterize your well. Depending on the type of well you have, there are different ways to go about this. But in general, you'll need to take steps to prevent your pipes from freezing and ensure that your pump doesn't overwork itself during the colder months. If you're not sure how to winterize your well, it's best to consult with a professional. They can assess your particular situation and give you specific instructions on what to do.
Following these tips will help you avoid costly repairs due to frozen or burst pipes.
4. Stockpile Firewood
If you heat with wood, now is the time to stockpile firewood so that you have plenty on hand when the cold weather hits. Nothing is worse than being stuck in the middle of a cold snap with no wood to burn! So make sure you have enough firewood to last you throughout the entire winter season—you can never have too much!
5. Bring Outdoor Furniture Inside
Last but not least, don’t forget to bring all of your outdoor furniture inside before the first snowfall hits. This includes patio furniture, lawn chairs, potted plants—anything that isn’t designed to withstand cold weather should be brought inside or stored in a protected area like a garage or shed. Once summer comes around again, you’ll be glad you took the time to do this!
Preparing your mountain home for winter may seem like a lot of work, but trust us—it’s worth it! By taking the time now to do things like inspect your roof and gutters and winterize your plumbing, you can help prevent big problems down the road. So what are you waiting for? Get started today on preparing your Summit County mountain home for another wonderful Colorado winter!