Winter Home Maintenance Checklist

As a Reminder: You Can Hire Help!

If you’re not sure if you can do all this yourself, there are plenty of options to HIRE outside help from companies, friends and networking to reduce what you do yourselves. It can be expensive and add up quickly. You can limit it to only specific things, like weekly or monthly lawn care for example, which is something we’ve decided to invest in this year.

Some things that you can hire out for when we get too busy or just don’t want to do it (with estimated cost for us):

Dog poop cleanup ($25 one-time fee .25 acre fenced-in area)
Snow shoveling ($30 for driveway & walkways)
Snow plowing ($25- $30 for driveway)
Heating & cooling issues ($90/hr)
Pest spraying (inside & outside quarterly $125)
Tree service (per issue est $300 minimum)

Let’s get your home prepared and organized for winter!

When to Start Your Winter Homeowner Routine

After a couple of years of homeownership, you start to develop a “rhythm”—a natural sense for when seasonal chores need to happen. If you’re still finding that rhythm (we all do at first!), here are a few simple signals that it’s time to begin your winter prep:

When temperatures begin to drop
Before the first frost hits
When it’s officially too cold to enjoy being outside

If you have seasoned neighbors, don’t be afraid to follow their lead. We used to watch one particular corner neighbor—when he mowed, we mowed. When he winterized, we winterized. It’s one of the easiest ways to learn your neighborhood’s seasonal patterns.

Don’t be afraid to follow your neighbors lead. When they winterized, you winterize!

10 Essential Winter Home Maintenance Tasks for November

November is your final “touch-up” month before the deep freeze.

Use this checklist to get ahead of costly winter issues:

Roof Check – include chimney, look for missing shingles, cracked seals, damaged flashing, or chimney wear.
Clean Gutters & Downspouts – Prevent ice dams and water backups.
Exterior Condition Check – Walk around your home to spot cracks, peeling paint, or gaps.
Clear Sidewalks & Pathways – Remove clutter before they become icy hazards.
Clean Windows – Helps reduce condensation and maximize natural winter light.
Inspect Fencing – Repair loose posts, repaint, and tighten hardware.
Clear Off Decks & Patios – Put away furniture and sweep before snowfall.
Rake & Bag Leaves – Less yard debris = fewer spring headaches.
Check the Heating Unit – Run your furnace before you need it.
Inspect Foundation & Underside Overhangs – Look for cracks or holes critters might slip through.

Suggested products:

Ladder
Outdoor caulking gun
Leaf blower
Furnace filter multipacks

🌲 Outdoor Winter Accessories Prep Checklist

Your outdoor spaces take the first hit when winter arrives—prep them early to protect your home and equipment.

Prep Outdoor Equipment & Accessories

Put away patio furniture & cushions
Cut or buy firewood and store it in an accessible spot
Put shovels near your garage door for easy access
Move the snowblower forward and store the mower behind it
Stock up on sidewalk salt or ice melt (buy early when prices are lowest)
Clean out the garage to fit vehicles inside before heavy snow
Store grills & propane tanks (or move them somewhere easy for winter cooking)
Bring in houseplants before the first frost
Remove or store outdoor decor
Cover outdoor trees, shrubs, and roses against snow and ice
Clean & store outdoor hoses
Put away gardening tools & clear the garden bed
Take down temporary gazebos or fabric structures

Suggested products:

Snow shovel set
Heated outdoor extension cord
Waterproof outdoor furniture covers
Ice melt (pet-safe option)
Firewood rack

Top Outdoor Winter Home Maintenance Tips from Roof Experts

These five tasks can save homeowners thousands in winter-related damage:

Visually inspect the roof for missing shingles, popped nails, bubbles, or damaged tiles.
Check the roof flashing around chimneys, skylights, and vents—these areas leak first.
Trim back tree branches that could break under snow or hit the roof during windstorms.
Clean gutters again after leaves drop to prevent ice buildup and water overflow.
Consider impact-rated roofing materials if you’re in a hail or high-wind area.

🏡 Indoor Winter Home Maintenance Checklist

Indoor comfort = warm rooms, safe air, healthy appliances, and efficient energy use.

Indoor Essentials to Check

Replace batteries in thermostats & indoor temperature gauges
Upgrade to a smart thermostat (choose one that helps lower heating costs like the Amazon Smart Thermostat – it’s affordable and energy efficient.)
Test your heater/furnace early in the season
Turn off outdoor water sources or let faucets drip during deep freezes
Clean air vents
Replace HVAC filters
Install window insulation kits (clear plastic window shrink films like the 3M kit or the roll — they shrink down to create an airtight, low-cost seal and do wonders on drafty windows)
Switch ceiling fans clockwise to push warm air down
Use draft guards under doors (great low-cost upgrade) (Amazon Smart Thermostat for energy, door stoppers for draft).
Caulk around windows and doors where you feel cold air coming in

Suggested affiliate products:

Smart thermostat
Weather-stripping kit
Draft stoppers
Window insulation kit
Space heater (indoor safe)

Winter Home Maintenance Plan (Month-by-Month)

Feeling overwhelmed? It does seem like a lot to do but if you break it up into months, it can be very manageable.

A simple seasonal routine helps keep your home safe without overwhelming you.

Break your routine into months to make it manageable.

🌧️ Late October

Clear gutters before leaves finish falling
Bring in plants + store outdoor furniture
Check furnace + replace filters
Install window insulation film

❄️ Early November

Full roof inspection
Inspect foundation & siding
Deep clean garage
Stock up on ice melt + firewood

🌬️ Late November

Test snowblower
Install draft stoppers
Reverse ceiling fans
Check carbon monoxide & smoke detectors

🌨️ December – February

Monitor for ice dams
Drip faucets during extreme cold
Check sump pump
Replace filters monthly
Maintain shoveling routine
Keep a winter emergency kit ready
Watch for drafty rooms

March

Inspect for winter damage
Plan repairs for spring

💸 Winterize Your Midwest Home on a Budget

With many Midwest homeowners seeing winter heating bills climb to $350–$450+ per month, budget-friendly fixes can make a huge difference.

Bob Vila shared a fantastic list: “11 Ways to Winterize Your Home on a Budget”

Here’s what homeowners can actually use today:

Use weatherstripping around doors
Apply door sweeps
Add insulation to attic access panels
Use window plastic film kits
Reverse ceiling fans
Seal cracks with caulk
Close fireplace flues when not in use
Wrap hot water pipes
Install programmable thermostat
Use thick curtains
Add area rugs to cold floors

Most of these cost under $20–$40 each and can significantly reduce heat loss.

Homeowner Fall and Winter Tools

Here’s a quick list of tools and equipment (for fall and winter) we found very useful as new homeowners that were essential:

Leaf blower
Snow Shovel
Furniture covers and/or Tarps
Snowblower
Outdoor electrical cords
Furnace filters
Plumbing maintenance tools
Room heaters
Outdoor lighting (optional for holidays)
Protective gear (eye protectors, gloves, bio-hazard suit, plastic sheet covering, etc)
other home remodeling tools for winter projects (sanders, table saws, jigsaw, nails of all kinds, drills, etc)

Of course, the need for these items came about at different times as projects or basic home maintenance issues came to light, but it was quite new to have to say, “oh wow, we should probably have one of those!”

🏠 Make Winter Prep Part of Your Homeowner Rhythm

Every Midwest homeowner eventually finds their seasonal rhythm. Once you know what “signals” to watch for—colder temps, the first frost warning, or simply the day it becomes too chilly to be outside—you’ll naturally settle into a routine that protects your home year after year.

Use these checklists as your starting point, customize it for your home, and revisit it each fall.

Your home (and your utility bill) will thank you all winter long.

Below we have listed them, but be sure to view the complete slide show here.

As the seasons and years go forward, our list will surely grow. But as for now, this list is what we work off of and add to as necessary.

Are the items you see I’ve missed? Have you had an experience with home owning you’d like to share? Please feel free to share in the comment section below for us – we love to read them!

Recommended Budget-Friendly Products for Winter Home Maintenance

Here are product suggestions that tie directly into the winter home maintenance checklist.

These are practical, budget-friendly, and especially useful for Midwest homeowners in cold climates.

Here are some highlights + how to talk about them in your post:

Amazon Smart Thermostat
A super cost-effective smart thermostat that works with Alexa and can help save around $50/year in energy costs (it’s ENERGY STAR certified). When you talk about upgrading your thermostat or installing a smart one in that “Indoor Winter Maintenance” section, you can drop in a link to this.
Frost King Zippered Door Draft Stopper
This heavy-duty, zippered draft stopper blocks wind under doors or windows. On your “Check for doorway and window drafts” item, you can recommend placing one of these on doors that leak the most cold air.
Twin Draft Guard Under‑Door Seal
This tool slides under doors, sealing drafts without adhesives or tools. It’s a simple addition to your winterizing strategy that’s low-cost and super effective.
Duck Brand Shrink‑Film Window Insulation Kit
A clear, shrink-to-fit film that you apply over windows. Once you heat it with a hair dryer, it contracts to make a tight seal. Perfect for older windows where drafts are an issue.
Duck Brand Rolled Window Insulation Film
Similar to the kit above but in a larger roll. Good for covering multiple windows. If you’re advising readers to insulate many windows at once, this is a great plug.
M‑D Building Vinyl Door Sweep
This is a more “permanent” door solution: a vinyl door sweep that mounts to the bottom of a door to block drafts. Use it in your section about sealing gaps and caulking around doors.
Freeze Miser Faucet Protector
This little mechanical device protects outdoor faucets / spigots from freezing — no batteries needed. Mention it when talking about “Turn off water sources or insulate them.”
Gorilla Grip Door Draft Stopper
A weighted, no-slip draft stopper that stays put. Good for high-traffic doors or when you don’t want something sliding around.
3M Indoor Window Insulation Kit (5 windows, shrink-film + tape) — Easy to apply, helps reduce drafts and heat loss. Amazon
JOOFAN Magnetic Window Insulation Kit — Comes with a plastic film + magnetic frame; great for older or odd-sized windows. Amazon
Duck Brand Foam Pipe Covers — Foam tubes to wrap around pipes to prevent freezing. Amazon
12-Pack Pre-Slit Foam Pipe Insulation — Bulk version of pipe insulation; useful for insulating many pipes, especially in a basement or crawlspace. Amazon

COMMENT QUESTION:

Q: How do you winterize your home and yard?

👇 Let me know what you think👇 in the comments down below! 👇

Items mentioned in this article:

*I sometimes use affiliate links on our site for items I use, recommend, and love. The links are free for you to use and it helps support my site by providing a commission for the recommendation. I greatly appreciate you clicking on any recommended links I provide.*

Items from this article:

Go directly to my full list onmy Amazon storefront with ALL MY FAVORITE THINGS! >

Winter Home Maintenance Checklist – Inside & Outside