December Maintenance Checklist

Insulation evaluation

If you find that you are losing a lot of heat through your roof, take a look at the insulation on your attic floor. It should be uniformly thick and distributed evenly with no gaps. The vapor barrier side should be facing downward—towards the living space you are trying to keep warm. Also, the insulation should be dry.

Let your water run

If an unusual cold snap is predicted and you live in an older, not-so-well insulated house, leave the sink and bathtub faucets on at a slow trickle to keep pipes from freezing. This is especially important if the heat is turned off in the house for any period; for example, during the day when the house is empty.

Clean heating ducts

If you have forced-air heating ducts, check ducts once a year for leaks and seal with (yes) duct tape. Routinely vacuum dust from duct grilles, and have the entire system professionally cleaned annually, or as recommended by your heating system's maintenance manual.

Get rid of mice or rats

If mice or rats have invaded your home despite efforts to keep them out, don't be softhearted. They can do damage that ranges from leaving a mess of droppings to chewing your home's wires—which can burn your house down. First, discern whether you have rats or mice: Rats make a lot of noise and leave half-inch droppings. Next, buy a dozen appropriately-sized traps, bait half of them (peanut butter works well and is cheap) and place them without setting them. After the rodents have taken the first bait, re-bait and set all the traps in one fell swoop. Wear gloves to dispose of the rodents, trap and all. (Do not try to reuse traps or you'll have a harder time going through with the chore.) Mice and rats breed like... well, rabbits, so keep repeating this cycle until you see no new evidence of these unwelcome, hazardous houseguests.

Check emergency supplies

Take time to evaluate your home's emergency kit. A battery-powered radio, a first-aid kit, blankets, several gallons of fresh water, tools for shutting off gas and water lines, candles and matches, flashlights and batteries should all be included. Check the batteries—they can drain with time, even if not used. If you live in an area with extremely cold winters, make sure you have a backup heat supply, whether it's a wood stove and a well-stocked woodshed, or a backup generator. If you live in hurricane country, keep a supply of plywood for protecting windows. Residents of earthquake-vulnerable areas should have a multiple-days' supply of water and food per person. If you are a camper, consider keeping your camping supplies near your emergency stash—camp stoves, waterproof matches and tarps are all items that could come in handy should disaster strike.