As you enjoy the smell and warmth of pumpkin-flavored drinks and candles, pulling up some cozy sweaters as the weather grows colder, it's also important to prepare your home for winter in Alaska to prevent any costly damage later on. Fall is the perfect time to take care of little fixes, repairs, and chores that will help keep your house in tip-top shape as the season changes. 

Below we've listed 10 preventative home maintenance tasks you can do now, so you can rest easy and just spend all your time cozied up inside.

1. Clean the gutters and downspouts.

Clogged gutters can cause water to overflow and cause ice dams, damaging your roof and siding. Neglected gutters are also more prone to wood rot problems, rust, and corrosion. This is why it's important to clean the gutters and downspouts when preparing your home for winter in Alaska. Remove any twigs, leaves, dirt, and other debris that may have piled up. Don’t forget to also replace any damaged gutters or downspouts to keep your roof's drainage system flowing smoothly and avoid more expensive repairs.

2. Clean and replace your furnace filter or heating system.

If it has been months since you changed your furnace's filter, now’s the time to do it to keep your system running smoothly. If your filters are clogged, it’s harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. This is an essential part of preparing your home for winter in Alaska, because a failing furnace can seriously increase your utility bills and risk damage caused by freezing.

3. Inspect your roof for any wear and tear.

This is a crucial maintenance task you need to do to prepare your home for winter in Alaska, because it will prevent leaks that can cause bigger problems inside your home. Because once there's been a dripping, it’ll be more time-consuming to find the source of the problem. Stand in your yard and inspect the roof, and see if there are any loose, curled, damaged, or missing shingles. Also scan the roof around vents and chimneys for any damage.

4. Repair leaks around your windows and doors.

Go around your house and inspect any missing or damaged caulk around the windows, doors, and any other entry points for pipes and wires. Then, make sure you seal any gaps with a suitable caulk to prevent moisture from getting inside your walls. This is really important in the lead-up to an Alaskan winter. Your budget will also thank you, as gaps can lead to much higher energy bills.

5. Inspect your home's safety features.

The start of fall is also a great time to check your home's carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms. Put in fresh batteries and test them to make sure they were installed correctly and are working properly. While you’re at it, clean the fire extinguishers and check for any dents, scratches, and corrosion. 

6. Close any water shut-off valves of exterior faucets.

To prepare your home for winter in Alaska, take the necessary steps to ensure that outside faucets don't freeze and burst. Turn off the valves serving exterior faucets, then run the water until the pipes are empty. Draining and disconnecting all garden hoses and storing them in a shed or garage will prevent any water from freezing and damaging the pipes.

7. Fix any cracks in the driveway.

When the weather turns icy, damaged walkways and driveways can be a huge hazard. When water gets into the cracks it freezes, expands, and can make the crack even bigger, even if it started from a small crack. Fixing these problems is critical in the lead-up to winter in Alaska to make sure the concrete won't crumble and leave you with a dangerous hole that will be expensive to fix.

8. Clean your outdoor furniture before bringing them in.

When you prepare you home for winter in Alaska, you’ll need to pack your outdoor furniture into winter storage. Before you do, make sure you clean them properly to ensure they don’t develop mold. Store the items in a garage so they're all spruced up and ready for the next year’s summer season.

9. Fertilize and reseed your lawn.

The key to a great-looking lawn come spring, is to prepare it during the fall, especially before freezing temperatures come in. Because even if the grass stops growing around this time, the roots are actually growing deeper and remaining active. Fall is the best time to aerate your lawn so that moisture and nutrients can get into the roots. Then, spread fertilizer and grass seed. 

10. Clean and maintain your garden tools before storing them.

This year's spring and summer seasons might have been filled with lots of gardening and yard work, especially since we’ve spent more time at home due to the pandemic. But don’t forget: all those gardening tools and equipment also need cleaning and maintenance before you get them stored for the winter. When you prepare your home for winter in Alaska, you’ll also need to stock up on winter supplies. Check the condition of snow shovels and ice scrapers, replace them if necessary, and get your snow blower serviced.