5 Things to Winterize Before Fall Comes to a Close

As we approach the cooler days of fall and eventually winter, it’s important to prepare in more ways than one, including winterizing some items around your home.

Some items like pools, RVs, and boats get put away for the winter months, but preparing them for that idle time is a must if you want them to be in good condition on the other end. Let’s take a look at five things to winterize before fall comes to an end.

Close Your Pool For the Season

To winterize your pool, start by removing any debris from the surface and floor, then give your pool a deep cleaning. Check the water chemistry and ensure that it’s balanced. Take out any water toys or accessories and store them for the next season. Lower the water level to roughly six inches below the skimmer if you have a solid cover. If you have a mesh cover, lower it to a foot below the skimmer. Finally, you’ll want to have a sturdy pool cover for safety and to keep any debris from getting in.

Steps For Winterizing an RV/Camper

Start by removing any hookups and drain the water heater in your RV. Use an air compressor to blow out your water lines. Bypass your water heater so you don’t need gallons of antifreeze for it. Use a hand pump to add antifreeze by the gallon with the outside water intake. Check each faucet to ensure that the system is getting filled. Once you have the water sources handled, you can go through the RV and vacuum, check seals, clean out hoses, and add a protective cover to your RV if it’s not stored in a carport or similar.

What You Need To Winterize Your Boat

When you go to winterize your boat, you’ll need some supplies like antifreeze, motor oil, fuel stabilizer, oil filter, oil suction pump, fogging oil, and drain plug gaskets. Just like with an RV, you’ll need to flush and drain your water lines. For the boat engine, you’ll need to stabilize the fuel and change all fluids and filters. Clean and wax your boat to provide a protective coating. If your boat is stored on land, make sure that it’s covered. If you’re mooring it, you might also consider some type of protective cover.

Ways To Winterize Your Home

Preparing your home for winter is a bit different than preparing a boat or RV, but there are a few steps you can take. Clean your gutters to prevent rain from overflowing them. Change your furnace filter, so you have a fresh one in for the additional runtime. If you have ceiling fans, reverse them to rotate clockwise so warm air is pushed down. Winterize your AC units if you have them. Consider laying rugs on hard floors to keep heat in. Finally, program your thermostat for a custom heating schedule.

How To Winterize Your Garden

Help your garden or lawn take on the winter weather with a few easy steps. Add compost to enrich the soil. Cover any vulnerable plants or move them indoors. Shut off your irrigation system to avoid freezing. Don’t add fertilizer in the fall and don’t prune trees or evergreen shrubs. These two things encourage growth that will just be damaged in the winter weather. If you expect heavy snow or ice, you can use burlap or canvas to cover fragile plants.