Winterizing Your Home: What to Look For Before the Cold Hits

By David Parks · eXp Realty · The Apollo Group · 2 min read

The Short Answer

To winterize a Colorado home, service the furnace, drain hoses and sprinklers, seal drafts, clear gutters, and know where your main water shutoff is. Most of these jobs take a weekend and can prevent costly winter damage.

Winterizing Your Home: What to Look For Before the Cold Hits
Stock photo: Pexels

Heating and air

Replace the furnace filter and schedule a tune-up before the first cold snap. Test your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms, and keep vents clear of furniture. Reverse ceiling fans to clockwise at low speed to push warm air down.

Water and pipes

Disconnect and drain garden hoses, shut off exterior hose bibs if your home has interior shutoffs, and have sprinklers blown out. Insulate exposed pipes in garages, crawl spaces, and exterior walls. Learn where the main water shutoff is in case a pipe bursts.

Quick Poll

Have you done this seasonal home check yet?

Roof, gutters, and exterior

Clear gutters and downspouts so melting snow can drain. Look for loose shingles and flashing. Seal gaps around windows, doors, and where utilities enter the house with caulk or weatherstripping.

Fireplace and extras

Have the chimney inspected if you burn wood, stock ice melt, and check that snow shovels and a generator or flashlights are easy to reach.

Quick tip

Walk around the house on a cold day and feel for drafts. Small fixes can noticeably lower heating bills.

Key Takeaways
  • Heating and air: Replace the furnace filter and schedule a tune-up before the first cold snap.
  • Water and pipes: Disconnect and drain garden hoses, shut off exterior hose bibs if your home has interior shutoffs, and have sprinklers blown out.
  • Roof, gutters, and exterior: Clear gutters and downspouts so melting snow can drain.
  • Fireplace and extras: Have the chimney inspected if you burn wood, stock ice melt, and check that snow shovels and a generator or flashlights are easy to reach.

This article is general information, not legal, tax, financial or inspection advice. Every home and situation is different, so confirm details with a licensed inspector, lender, attorney or tax professional.

David Parks
About David Parks

David is a Greater Denver real estate advisor with eXp Realty and The Apollo Group (Colorado broker license FA100103211). He has closed more than $55 million in volume, earned eXp Icon status in 2025, and holds a 5.0 rating on Zillow from 27 verified reviews.

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