Ideal Homes Winter Weather Checklist

Watch Winter Weather Tips from Ideal's Customer Care Team

Did you know that January and February are the coldest months of the year in Oklahoma? When cold weather is on the horizon, a little preparation can go a long way.

Keep our Winter Weather Checklist on hand and be prepared to protect your Ideal home when the temperatures drop.

Outside

Preparing your Ideal home for winter weather begins outside. When it comes to the exterior of your Ideal home, we’re most concerned about water that can turn into destructive ice.

• Water your lawn - Sounds counter-intuitive, right? But if the weather is turning cold soon, this might be the last chance you have for a bit to give your grass, trees, shrubs, and flowers the water they need. If the temps are above 40° F, keep watering.
• Disconnect all exterior hoses - Not only will it protect the hoses, but if any water leaks back into the pipes from the hoses, it can cause damage. Also, if your hose is still connected you can’t cover your faucet, which is the next on the to-do list.
• Cover faucets  - Insulated faucet covers can be found online or at any hardware store. Keeping out the cold protects your pipes since even a small amount of water inside can freeze, expand, and cause significant damage.
• Winterize your sprinkler system - This item has a few more steps. Some Ideal homeowners winterize their sprinklers before each cold weather event. Others turn to trusted sprinkler experts and shut down their systems for the season. Find out more about how to winterize your sprinkler system.
• Check your trees - Walk around your yard and inspect your trees for limbs that could break under the weight of ice. Pay special attention to branches that could fall on your home, cars, fences, or neighbors’ property. If you have large limbs to remove, consider hiring a professional.
• Clean your gutters - Just like your pipes, your gutters can become backed up during winter storms and cause water damage to your home. Make sure autumn’s leaves are cleared out before winter’s ice and snow arrive.

Garage and Attic

Because Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods is a national leader in energy-efficient homes, many typical winterization tasks don’t apply to you! Your attic is insulated with R-38 and blown-in R-15 attic insulation, meaning your garage and attic checklist is short.

• Check the heat tape on your furnace - Just like pipes, the decondensation line in your furnace can freeze. Prevent this by checking the heat tape located below your furnace. It is a silver, braided cord that should feel warm to the touch. If it doesn’t feel warm, there is a black box in the middle of the cord. Press the Reset button on the box. 
• Prep your water softener - If you installed an aftermarket whole-house water softener, check with the manufacturer for instructions on insulating your unit. These units are prone to freezing in Oklahoma temperatures.
• Ice prep - If you’re concerned about ice on your driveway and sidewalks, keep a bag of sand on hand. Avoid using rock salt or ice melt products, as they can cause gradual damage to your outdoor concrete surfaces.

Inside

If prepping the outside is all about ice, the inside is all about air flow. Keeping warm air moving in your house is good for energy efficiency (keeping those heating bills down) and helps protect your home.

And just like with the attic, you get to skip many of the steps on a typical indoor cold-weather checklist thanks to your energy-efficient and well-sealed Vinyl Low-E windows.

• Safety first: Check your carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors - Can’t remember when you changed the batteries last? Grab the ladder and do them all at once. We recommend changing batteries preemptively every six months so that you can avoid any middle-of-the-night chirping.
• Switch the ceiling fan settings - There’s a small switch on ceiling fans (or possibly on a remote depending on your fan's manufacturer) that changes the direction from counterclockwise (cooling) to clockwise (warming). In winter, set your fan to rotate clockwise to push warm air down and distribute heat throughout the room.
• Change your air filters - Replacing air filters monthly keeps air flowing efficiently and improves indoor air quality without your HVAC system having to work overtime. It’s a good idea all the time, but especially in preparation for winter weather.

Ideal homes…Ideal neighbors

If you have neighbors who might need a hand — whether they’re elderly, new to the area, or deployed members of the military — consider checking in. A quick text or a friendly knock can make all the difference during a cold snap.

Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods has homes for people in every stage of life. Each Ideal Home is designed and built for Oklahomans, by Oklahomans. 

Ready for your own Ideal Home? Visit www.idealhomes.com to explore our communities and find the perfect fit for you!