Tis the season to be jolly, and I’m thrilled to bring you a sack filled with joy in the form of FREE Christmas events for the 2023 Holiday Season! As the year draws to a close, the Christmas spirit surrounds us all, and what better way to celebrate it than by partaking in festivities that won’t cost you a dime. From enchanting light displays that adorn homes and city streets to heartwarming community gatherings; there’s no shortage of ways to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit without breaking the bank. These events offer an opportunity to create cherished memories with loved ones, share in the warmth of the season, and spread the message of goodwill. So, whether you’re into caroling, gingerbread houses, or sipping cocoa by a crackling fire, let’s embrace the most wonderful time of the year and make it even more special with these fabulous, free Christmas events!
The Sheraton Grand Seattle Gingerbread Village announced their theme this year. Also, I included a few photos from past Gingerbread Villages I had gone to see.
This event will have you stepping into a world of pure imagination! The 29th Annual Sheraton Grand Seattle Gingerbread Village theme this year is The Chocolate Factory. I have gone to see the Sheraton Gingerbread Village many times over the years and it has never disappointed. It is one of my favorite things to do around Christmas time! The craftsmanship and creativity will keep guests of all ages captivated! I should also add that while this event is free, they will be accepting donations at the door that will directly benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Northwest Chapter. So, if you can give, it goes toward a worthy cause.
Photo Courtesy of Snowflake Lane presented by The Bellevue Collection
Snowflake Lane’s magical parade is returning this year! Along with it, free complimentary sights from character performances to floats, to lights and nightly snowfall. If you get there early enough, you can use one of the free parking garages nearby. You’ll also want to get there early enough to grab a front row spot on the sidewalk.
If you’re like me and you believe that reindeer are better than people, then this is the event for you! On Saturday, November 25th join the city of Everett for a unique opportunity to meet two live reindeer. Dasher and Dancer! This festive duo will be relaxing and preparing for their upcoming important journey. Keep in mind they will arrive the day after the Everett tree lighting ceremony on the 24th.
Photo Courtesy of Seattle Festival Of Trees
Prepare yourself for a delightful realm of cuddly companions! The annual Teddy Bear Suite is making a return at the Seattle Fairmont Olympic Hotel. Families are welcome to explore the suite and cozy up for some memorable photos. You’ll find the room on the hotel’s second floor. Although this event is complimentary, on-site donations are gladly received, with all proceeds going to support Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Photo courtesy of The Home Depot
The Home Depot is coming in clutch this year with two festive crafts! On November 25th they’re hosting a kids’ workshop where your little ones can create an adorable penguin ornament. Then, on December 2nd, get ready to assemble your very own Gingerbread House. Best of all, it’s all FREE! This includes the featured craft kit and all the materials needed to complete the build! These cute crafts are offered only while supplies last and do require registration. I strongly recommend you head over to their website, linked HERE, to discover what is being offered at your local Home Depot and to register you kiddos!
While this event is free, it is part of a fundraiser benefiting Providence General Children’s Association. So if you can give, it goes to a worthy cause.
This event offers holiday spirit seekers an opportunity to see extravagantly decorated trees and wreaths before they are auctioned at the Holiday Gala & Live Auction on Friday, December 1st. There will be free activities as well as opportunities to donate to the cause. Activities will include live entertainment, photos with Santa, Children’s Crafts, a Teddy Bear Store (for purchase), and raffles (for purchase).
Don’t forget to pop into our Windermere office to say hi!
Experience the enchanting Festival of Trees, a delightful and engaging holiday celebration. Play a fun game of spotting adorable woodland creatures cleverly hidden on storefront windows throughout Mill Creek Town Center. Discover all four of them, and you’ll have the chance to win a fantastic prize! Due to popular demand, this event is making a return for its second year, and our very own Windermere office at Mill Creek Town Center is joining in the festive fun. Embark on a quest to locate the charming holiday critters adorning the windows of Mill Creek Town Center Main Street. Once you’ve found them all, submit their locations via QR code for a chance to win an exciting prize! For additional event details, please visit the event page.
Trust me when I say these pictures don’t do this display justice but I had a hard time finding mine from my last visit.
The Evergreen Christmas Light show is the perfect setting to drive out the Washington winter darkness. Eat Evergreen’s FREE famous chocolate chip and gingerbread cookies, while you warm yourself from a heated viewing area. The music choreographed light show lasts for 30 minutes and runs back-to-back from 6:00-9:00pm; from a tunnel light with a snowstorm that dusts every 30 minutes to a heated indoor train and village display there are plenty of photo opportunities along the way. For more information on the event please visit their website at Christmas at Evergreen.
Santa is coming to town! That’s right! The Santa Parade will be returning to main street at the Mill Creek Town Center. There will be free train rides offered from 2-6pm. The Santa Parade will start at 3:45 and the tree lighting will be at 5:00 PM at City Hall. There will also be an appearance from the jolly man himself, Santa!
Come see us and meet the Grinch!
After the Santa Parade on December 2nd stop by our Windermere office to meet none-other than the Grinch! Remember to bring your phone or camera to snap off your portrait! We can’t wait to see you there!
Photos Courtesy of The Port of Everett
Rain or shine, head to Port’s Pacific Rim Plaza, close to Hotel Indigo, for a day of outdoor fun. There’s a holiday market, and lots of free stuff for kids to do, like decorating cookies, making crafts, getting their faces painted, checking out a fire truck, meeting Christmas characters, and watching a tree-lighting with Santa. Plus, there’s a cool parade of boats all lit up, and you can catch holiday movies at a drive-in (but you need to reserve your spot). And to top it off, there will be festive music and pretty lights everywhere. I recommend dressing in layers and bringing gloves because every year I have gone it’s been FREEZING.
PNWCL’s Holiday Light Map wasn’t active yet for the 2023 year so these are screenshots of 2022 and their Halloween Map
Here’s a cool way to enjoy a holiday tradition. Use PNWCL’s Holiday Light Map for a do-it-yourself tour. I really like cruising around to see all the festive lights. It’s super comfy in the car with the heater on, sipping cocoa, and munching on holiday cookies. Okay, I’m not usually the driver, but I still love it. There’s just something magical about the twinkling Christmas lights and getting to enjoy all the hard work our neighbors put into spreading holiday cheer.
Photo Courtesy of the Edmonds Downtown Alliance, and the City of Edmonds
The Edmonds Holiday Trolley is making a comeback for its ninth year, featuring the festive tour guide, Emily the Elf. Jump aboard the holly jolly trolley for a brief journey through downtown Edmonds, where you can soak in some town history along the way. After stoking your yuletide cheer, explore the shops and eateries you passed by to discover what delights they have in store! Who knows, you might stumble upon the perfect Christmas gift to cross off your list!
Photo Courtesy of Seattle.gov
Attending the annual Green Lake Pathway of Lights is a festive way to kick off the holidays. The lively crowd, adorned in twinkling Christmas lights, creates a magical atmosphere. Enjoy complimentary refreshments and live holiday music near the Community Center. The hot air balloon glow is from 4:30 to 5:30, weather permitting, but the main events are rain or shine. Arrive early to be part of the enchanting Green Lake illumination!
Photo Courtesy of Lowes
Lowes is calling all little elves to join their band of merry Red Vest experts for this jolly Holiday Delivery Truck build that’s also a gift card holder! This event requires registration and is offered only while supplies last. Additionally, at 1:00 pm walk-ins are accepted on the day of the workshop, so if you have not shown up for your build, it may be given away. If you’re interested in signing up your little ones, I recommend you head over to lowes.com, linked HERE, to register!
Many of these tree lighting ceremonies have other holiday events attached to them. I would recommend following the hyperlink to the city pages to confirm dates, times and activities.
From the enchanting Sheraton Grand Seattle Gingerbread Village, where generosity meets craftsmanship, to the magical Snowflake Lane parade that promises nightly snowfall and character performances, there’s an abundance of heartwarming experiences waiting for you. Whether you’re strolling through Mill Creek Town Center in search of woodland critters or enjoying the twinkling lights on the Pacific NW Christmas Lights GPS Self-Guided Tour, these events offer not only free festive fun but also opportunities to make a positive impact in our communities. May your holiday season be filled with laughter, love, and the warmth of shared moments. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours!
I am always excited to put together the Local Farmer’s Market Blog! Another year all the farmer’s and local community get to share their food, art, creations and much much more! This list covers Snohomish and the surrounding area so you can pick up essentials fresh from the farm at any of these locations.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays May 7th through October 25th
140 N. Olympic Ave.; 360-659-5453 – www.stillyvalleychamber.com/farmersmarket
Every Sunday rain or shine year-round from 9:00 AM – 2:00PM
Ballard Avenue NW between Vernon Place and 22nd Avenue Ballard AVE NW – www.sfmamarkets.com/visit-ballard-farmers-market
3 PM – 2PM Every Thursday, From May 12th through October 6th
Bellevue Presbyterian Church parking lot, 1717 Bellevue Way NE – www.bellevuefarmersmarket.org
All Year Around, visit site to see which market and times work for you
E Barbara Bailey Way between Broadway Ave E and 10th Ave E, Seattle – www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org
Thursdays from 3pm – 7pm
Taylor Landing, 16201 Main Street NE, Duvall WA 98019 next to Park & Ride – www.duvallfarmersmarket.org
Saturdays May 7th from 9am – 2pm
5th Avenue N. & Bell Street – www.historicedmonds.org/summer-market
Sundays May 8th – October 30th from 11am – 3pm
5th Avenue N. & Bell Street – www.everettfarmersmarket.com
Wednesday’s starting June 1st
Marina Park 25 Lakeshore Plaza – www.kirklandmarket.org/www.everettfarmersmarket.com
Wednesdays June – August from 3pm – 7pm
North Cove Park and The Mill – 1808 Main Street in downtown Lake Stevens – www.lakestevensfarmersmarket.org/www.kirklandmarket.org/www.everettfarmersmarket.com
Thursdays May – September from 3pm – 7pm
Union & Glen Avenue in Historic Downtown Snohomish – www.snohomishfarmersmarket.org
Saturdays June 4th – October 1st from 10am – 2pm
Location TBD – www.shorelinefarmersmarket.org/home
Saturdays May – September from 10am – 3pm
Festival Street in Downtown Woodinville – www.woodinvillefarmersmarket.com
written by Chasity Rodriguez
Social Media Director
Every Month our office holds space for an Artist of the Month. We display their work at our Mill Creek Town Center location for the whole month. Its a great opportunity for the artist! We love supporting our community and this is just one way of showing how much we love it.
This month for November we have an artist by the name of Jim Schleis. He specializes in acrylic painting and loves to add texture, depth and liveliness to each one of his canvas he creates. Jim was born in 1939 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He started his artistic endeavors in the ‘50’s with painting, pottery, and stagecraft projects. He started with water colors but is exclusive to only acrylic medium. He only paints subjects he has personally seen and photographed, most often using landscapes or tourist subjects observed while traveling. His paintings portray subjects found in the United States, England, Germany, Holland, and Turkey. Jim has a theatrical background in over 100 productions including scenery design, scenery and set construction, scene painting and decoration, lighting design and execution, and technical direction. He has participated in many workshops becoming a mentor and tutor to art teachers and young aspiring artists along the way. His work has been shown at the Bothell Arts Fair and in the High Country Artists associates members art shows at the Carpenter House Museum in Cle Elum and various other venues in Kittitas, King, and Snohomish counties. You can visit his website to view more of his incredible work at jimschleisart.com.
Social Media Director
Blog written Chasity Rodriguez
These are my reading picks through the Summer. I hope you enjoy them along with other reading options through King County Library System which is now open for in person services. All online services and resources continue to be available as well. Visit there site here kcls.com
When Poppy met Alex, there was no spark, no chemistry, and no reason to think they’d ever talk again. Alex is quiet, studious, and destined for a future in academia. Poppy is a wild child who only came to U of Chicago to escape small-town life. But after sharing a ride home for the summer, the two form a surprising friendship. After all, who better to confide in than someone you could never, ever date? Over the years, Alex and Poppy’s lives take them in different directions, but every summer the two find their way back to each other for a magical week long vacation. Until one trip goes awry, and in the fallout, they lose touch. Now, two years later, Poppy’s in a rut. Her dream job, her relationships, her life – none of it is making her happy. In fact, the last time she remembers feeling truly happy was on that final, ill-fated Summer Trip. The answer to all her problems is obvious: She needs one last vacation to win back her best friend. As a hilariously disastrous week unfolds and tensions rise, Poppy and Alex are forced to confront what drove them apart – and decide what they’re willing to risk for the chance to be together.
Have you ever wondered “Why did I do that?” or “Why can’t I just control my behavior?” Others may judge our reactions and think, “What’s wrong with that person?” When questioning our emotions, it’s easy to place the blame on ourselves; holding ourselves and those around us to an impossible standard. It’s time we started asking a different question. Through deeply personal conversations, Oprah Winfrey and renowned brain and trauma expert Dr. Bruce Perry offer a groundbreaking and profound shift from asking “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” Here, Winfrey shares stories from her own past, understanding through experience the vulnerability that comes from facing trauma and adversity at a young age. In conversation throughout the book, she and Dr. Perry focus on understanding people, behavior, and ourselves. It’s a subtle but profound shift in our approach to trauma, and it’s one that allows us to understand our pasts in order to clear a path to our future―opening the door to resilience and healing in a proven, powerful way.
We hope you enjoy the books I have chosen for you. Visit kcls.org to view other wonderful books that are available. Kcls.org Libraries are now open for in person service but you can still reserve books online and do curbside pick up and drop off.
Social Media Director
by Chasity Rodriguez
No matter how many HGTV shows you watch about flipping old houses that have happy endings, reality isn’t always as kind. Regardless of when the home was built and its current condition, if you find yourself in a situation where you’re getting ready to make an offer, ask yourself these questions first to make sure it really is the right house for you (and your budget).
Here are some questions to consider to help you determine whether this is your best option:
As heartbreaking as it may be to walk away from what you think could be your dream home, the reality is, it might not work out. And it’s better to know that now, than after the papers are signed.
Here is Part two of Moving and Packing Tips. Pack a “first day” box with items you will need right away (dogs and cats included, hahaha….)
scissors
utility knife
local phone book
coffee cups
teakettle
instant coffee or tea, soft drinks
pencil and paper
soap
bath towels
trash bags
shelf liner
paper plates
snacks
toilet paper
children’s toys and books
furniture pads
hand truck or dolly
packing tape
bubble wrap
newspapers or
packing paper
scissors
utility knife
labels
felt-tip markers
cornstarch packing
“peanuts”
plenty of boxes
Pick up the truck as early as possible if you are
moving yourself.
Make a list of every item and box loaded on the truck.
Let the mover know how to reach you.
Double-check closets, cupboards, attic, basement
and garage for any left-behind items.
Be on hand at the new home to answer questions
and give instructions to the mover.
Check off boxes and items as they come off the truck.
Install new locks. Confirm that the utilities have been turned on and
are ready for use.
Unpack your “first day” box (see list above for suggested
contents).
Unpack children’s toys and find a safe place for them to play.
Examine your goods for damage.
written by Chasity Rodriguez
Social Media Director
The process of moving is long and complex. Being organized, knowing what needs to be done,
and tackling tasks efficiently can make your move significantly less stressful. We have some moving and packing tips for you and a detailed list to keep you on task and help make your move successful.
Use up things that may be difficult
to move, such as frozen food.
Get estimates from
professional movers or from
truck rental companies if you
are moving yourself.
Once you’ve selected a mover,
discuss insurance, packing,
loading and delivery, and the
claims procedure.
Sort through your possessions.
Decide what you want to keep,
what you want to sell and what
you wish to donate to charity.
Record serial numbers on
electronic equipment, take photos
(or video) of all your belongings
and create an inventory list.
Change your utilities, including
phone, power and water, from your
old address to your new address.
Obtain a change of address
packet from the post office
and send to creditors,
magazine subscription offices
and catalog vendors.
Discuss tax-deductible moving
expenses with your accountant
and begin keeping accurate
records.
If you’re moving to a new
community, contact the
Chamber of Commerce and
school district and request
information about services.
Make reservations with airlines,
hotels and car rental agencies,
if needed.
If you are moving yourself, use
your inventory list to determine
how many boxes you will need.
Begin packing nonessential items.
Arrange for storage, if needed.
If you have items you don’t want to
pack and move, hold a yard sale.
Get car license, registration and
insurance in order.
Transfer your bank accounts to
new branch locations. Cancel
any direct deposit or automatic
payments from your accounts if
changing banks.
Make special arrangements to
move pets, and consult your
veterinarian about ways to make
travel comfortable for them.
Have your car checked and
serviced for the trip.
Collect items from safe-deposit
box if changing banks.
Defrost your refrigerator
and freezer.
Have movers pack your
belongings.
Label each box with the contents
and the room where you want it
to be delivered.
Arrange to have payment ready
for the moving company.
Set aside legal documents
and valuables that you do not
want packed.
Pack clothing and toiletries,
along with extra clothes in
case the moving company
is delayed.
Give your travel itinerary to a close
friend or relative so they can reach
you as needed.
written by Chasity Rodriguez
Social Media Director
by Chasity Rodriguez
It’s the New Year, but you’re probably back to your same old work from home schedule—taking calls from your couch, working late hours, and even checking emails on the weekends. In the midst of this ongoing pandemic, our work life has merged with our personal life so that there’s little separation between the two. “Many employers are piling greater responsibilities on their staff and promoting a culture of open communication outside of traditional work hours. Due to fear of losing their jobs, many individuals working from home feel obligated to meet these demands,” says Jeffrey Ditzell, D.O., a psychiatrist based in New York City. When work and life are under the same roof, it can be difficult to keep them balanced.
As hard as it may be in these times, maintaining a healthy balance between your work and your personal life is essential for your mental and physical health. People who have blurred, or nonresistant, boundaries between their work and personal lives tend to have higher levels of stress and feel more distressed over time. Eventually developing all of the health issues that come along with it, but the good news is you can prevent this imbalance and all of the negative impacts of it by drawing a fine line between your personal and professional life.
“Setting firm boundaries is crucial for a strong work-life balance,” says Regine Muradian, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist based in Los Angeles. Learning how to establish boundaries will set you on the route to keep your work-related activities in control and prioritize more time for yourself, even when the pandemic is over. Here are five Tips for a Healthy Work-Life Balance that will help you build great WFH habits.
Designate when you will start and end the workday. When you set these times in stone (as best as you can), avoid checking your work email or accounts outside of your allotted work hours. Use technology to your advantage by using the various apps and digital reminders that make it more difficult for you to break your own rules and access things outside of work time. Although technology can feel like it’s taking over our lives and infringing on our work-life balance, we can actually use it to our benefit in helping us stick to the boundaries we know are healthy for us. This can mean setting time limits, turning off your active status, or even activating an auto-reply to let others know you’re not available outside your work hours.
An imbalance between your work and personal life can be emotionally draining and cause burnout. Ensure you’re getting enough time each day to decompress and rest, which is necessary for your health and well-being. Make a habit to incorporate at least 10 minutes of mindfulness or yoga in your day. Prioritizing this time will help you check in with yourself in regards to how you’re feeling. To boost your mood and start the day with an energy boost, incorporate physical activity in your routine too. Pick any workout you enjoy and perform it regularly. This will enhance your mood and improve your experience of your day. Whether it is the first thing in the morning, during lunchtime, or before bed, creating time and space for consistent exercise and mindfulness will help you feel relaxed and rejuvenated.
Set aside time regularly to do the things you love with those you love. Plan special dates that you’ll look forward to and don’t overlap with your work hours. This may include attending an online workout class, having a Zoom happy hour with friends, taking a walk with your partner, or anything else you want to make sure you fit into your day or week. You can also invest in more family time by checking in with your loved ones virtually and attending events, like birthdays and anniversaries. If you have any family events that may occur on a consistent basis, build your work schedule around those events instead of building those events around your work schedule, if possible.
The COVID-19 pandemic is the perfect time to reflect on your interests and adopt a new hobby that you love. If you’re WFH, you’re probably saving a lot of time and money on commuting, so why not put it toward a new activity or skill? Maybe it’s joining that 8 a.m. running club in your neighborhood, or growing flowers in your home garden, or perhaps learning a new language. Think about something that feels good to you and will help you decompress. This may be a good time to avoid the news, social media and just do something for yourself. Finding purpose in a hobby will not only spark your inner creativity but also uplift and motivate you.
While there may not be much to do on a vacation during a pandemic, you still need that time off for your mental health and well-being. Do something that comforts you—maybe it’s taking a staycation and doing a movie marathon or spending a week in your favorite city. During your vacation, make sure to mute all work-related emails and accounts, if possible, and just focus on having fun. Additionally, throughout the year, don’t be too hard on yourself—take breaks every so often for that much-needed “me time.” Reflect and evaluate when you need time off from work, which will shift you closer to the type of balance you are striving for. It is a process for most people, so reviewing and tweaking your schedule, habits, and boundaries regularly is important.
By Chasity Rodriguez
Social Media Director
IN A TIME DEFINED IN many ways by the coronavirus pandemic, everyday life is affected constantly as we adapt to changing circumstances. One of the many effects of the pandemic is that more and more people are buying or adopting pets, sometimes referred to as “pandemic puppies,” than ever before.
Simultaneously, an increasing number of people are sheltering in place or being uprooted and going through multiple moves due to major life shifts in how they work or go to school. For many families, that means packing up and making a move with their furry friends in tow.
Moving is not necessarily a fun activity, and we often don’t take into consideration just how stressful it can be for our four-legged friends. Animals, like people, need time to adjust. But with smart preparation and planning, you can make the move successful and easier for your pet, for you and for your new home.
Here are five tips to make moving with your pet as pleasant and stress-free as possible:
Introduce your pet to your new home and surroundings the way you might introduce young children to the space (they’re called “fur babies” for a reason, after all). Most people bring their children to their new home a few times prior to an actual move to get them excited about the house and neighborhood. This gives them time to explore and visualize themselves in the new environment and can alleviate some of the stress that may carry over with the major transition.
Try this with your dogs, too – let them sniff around while you’re taking measurements for furniture. Take them for a walk around the block so they can start to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings. Seek out any local dog-friendly parks and research where the best veterinarians and doggy day cares are. You’ll both come to rely on these resources, and it’ll be a great way to meet new people in your neighborhood.
You may be tempted to throw away old, worn-out items prior to your move, but you’ll be glad that you didn’t get rid of your dog’s favorite chew toy or your cat’s beloved scratching post. Having these familiar items present in their new spaces will be key to helping them acclimate and feel right at home.
If you really hate that old dog bed, it doesn’t have to stay in your new house long-term. Keep it around for the first few weeks until the dog adjusts and feels comfortable in its new space. Think about how you would feel if someone tossed your favorite pillow that you simply cannot sleep without.
The same goes for cats. You may feel inclined to get a brand-new litter box for your new home, but hang onto the one they’re familiar with while they get used to the new setting.
No one enjoys the mayhem of moving day. The house is a mess, movers are rummaging around and you’re scrambling to do your best to make sure it all goes as smoothly as possible.
It may be a smart move for families with children to send them to stay with a family member or friend on the actual move day, and do the same with your pet, if possible. You don’t want them to associate their new home with the inevitable chaos and the frazzled mood you are sure to feel on moving day. If you don’t have someone that lives nearby, drop them off at day care or ask a new neighbor if they’d be willing to help.
A move can make pets act abnormally – your dog may decide to use the floor as a bathroom or a cat may scratch up the carpeting. To avoid these potentially costly damages, try to protect your new home as if you were dealing with a new puppy or kitten with some simple precautions.
Lay floor mats down or cover the couch temporarily until you know all the moving jitters have subsided. An accident can create more stress for both of you, and tarnish what should be a loving and peaceful new environment.
Cats, in particular, are more likely to feel anxious about their new surroundings. A way to ease their anxiety is to limit their initial access to the whole house or apartment. Create a home base for them in one room that has their favorite toys, water, treats and a litter box, and allow them to acclimate on their own time. Once they’re comfortable there, you can open up additional space for them to explore room by room. If your cat’s home base isn’t the final destination for its litter box, slowly move it closer to the permanent location each day.
Finally, don’t forget to change your pet’s address tags when you relocate. With time, patience and smart planning, everyone will start off on the right foot (or paw) in your new home.
Chasity Rodriguez
Social Media Director
Windermere Mill Creek
by Chasity Rodriguez
Make sure your home is safeguarded against subfreezing temperatures. Our checklist will help you ensure you’re prepared.
Depending on the region of the United States you’re in, you’ll need to protect your pipes from bursting this winter.
Weather stripping or installing storm doors and windows will prevent cold air from entering your home or heat from escaping it, which will reduce your power bills. Door sweeps are also an effective and easy way to keep the cold out.
Animal nests or creosote buildup in your fireplace can be hazardous. Have an annual inspection before building your first fire of the season. Also, soot and other debris build up in the chimney. Call a chimney sweep to thoroughly clean the chimney before your first winter use. You should also vacuum or sweep out any accumulated ash from the firebox.
Cleaning your gutters is an important part of winter prep. A good rule of thumb is to have the gutters cleaned as soon as the last leaves have fallen in the autumn. To prevent clogging, inspect and clean the gutters of leaves and other debris. Clean gutters will also allow melting snow to drain properly.
If you want to avoid gutter cleanings, consider gutter guards. They can be made of stainless steel or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and will help keep out leaves, pine needles, roof sand grit and other debris from your gutter. They need to be occasionally brushed off to ensure the guards work to their maximum effectiveness, but it’s not as strenuous as routine cleanings.
Caulk around windows and use foam outlet protectors to prevent cold air from entering your home. However, the majority of heat loss typically occurs via openings in the attic. Check to make sure that you have enough insulation.
In the winter, the Department of Energy suggests keeping the thermostat at 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re at home. Lower the thermostat a few degrees while you’re away or sleeping. Switching your thermostat out for a programmable version is a good idea. It’ll let you customize your heating so the system doesn’t run when you don’t need it, keeping your home comfortable and bills down.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
You’ll need to bring plants and flowering trees inside before the first cold snap. Typically, you should bring your plants in before temperatures dip below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cold temperatures, snow and ice can damage outdoor furniture and grills. If possible, store them in the garage or basement. If you have a gas grill with a propane tank, close the tank valve and disconnect the tank first. It must be stored outside. If you don’t have storage space for your items, purchase covers to protect them from the elements. You also need to maintain your grill and cover it before putting it away for the season.
Outdoor power tools, such as mowers and string trimmers, need to be cleaned and maintained prior to storing. If you have a snow blower, it’s time to inspect it before the first snowfall to ensure it’s working properly.
Call your local power company to see if they conduct energy saving assessments. It’s often a free service where a representative will identify specific changes to make your home more energy efficient and save you money. In addition to the suggestions above, LED light bulbs and water heater blankets can also make a difference.
Your furnace will function more efficiently with a clean filter. A dirty filter with trapped lint, pollen, dust, etc., obstructs airflow and makes your furnace run longer to heat your home. Replace filters at least every three months.
Snow, rain, ice and wind can make it challenging for your home to withstand winter’s wrath. Of particular concern should be your roof. You can get a head start on winterizing your roof with a few key steps.
To help keep chilly air from leaking in through window cracks, swap out the lightweight summer curtains with thermal lined curtains or drapes. They’ll help keep your home warm and lower your heating bill. For the windows that don’t get direct sunlight, keep the curtains or drapes closed to keep the cold air out and the warm air in.
Don’t wait for the next big winter storm. Depending on where you live, there are certain staples that are good to stock up on ahead of time.
Written by Chasity Rodriguez
Social Media Director
© 2023 Windermere Real Estate
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