Prep your house for winter

With autumn’s arrival, homeowners may be thinking about getting their houses ready for the winter. Consider the following weatherproofing projects.

• Install a new walkway and maintain current ones — fill in cracks before they worsen.
• Light up the path with low-voltage landscape lighting.
• Prep your lawn and start composting. According to This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook, grass roots continue to grow until the ground temperature dips to 40 degrees. Applying a high-phosphorus (12-25-12) mix can encourage roots so that the grass is greener in the spring.
• Freeze-proof exterior faucets.
• Maintain the front entry door by sealing leaks. Decorate the entry and be prepared for friends and family who visit over the holidays.
• Service the furnace and change out the filter.
• And since you’ll be spending more time indoors, maximize efficiency of rooms by utilizing storage solutions.

For more information, check out This Old House’s “Easy Fall Prep for a Warm and Cozy Home.”