Winter-Ready: Tips from a Plant Operations Director to Prepare Your Home and Community

As the Plant Operations Director at Vitalia Mentor. I know the importance of preparing the community and my home for the cold winter weather. To prepare your house for winter weather, start by inspecting and sealing any gaps or cracks in doors, windows, and walls to prevent drafts and conserve heat. Please clean your gutters and downspouts. To ensure proper drainage so that ice dams can not damage your roof and walls when snow and ice accumulate. 

Remember to check your heating system and replace the air filters. It might be best to schedule a professional inspection to ensure it’s functioning efficiently and safely for the colder months. Insulate your home properly by adding weatherstripping to doors and windows, and consider adding insulation to your attic and walls to retain heat and lower energy bills. Don’t forget also to prepare your outdoor spaces. Drain and store garden hoses, cover outdoor furniture, and trim tree branches that could damage your home during winter storms. 

In our community, getting ready for winter involves shutting off or putting away summer tools. Winter tools come out of storage to make room for the summer tools. Winter tools are inspected, lubricated, and tested so we know they are ready when needed. Any supplies required for winter are ordered and stored, ready to go.

I put a cover over the top of the units to keep air conditioning compressors working longer. This keeps debris and excess moisture from getting inside. I leave the sides open so they can dry out if water condenses on the equipment.

I have found that prior, proper planning prevents inferior performance!

A little time and money spent preparing for cold weather will pay great dividends through energy savings. There is no way to stop “Old Man Winter” from arriving at your door, but with some preparation, he’ll stay outside where he belongs!