Winter Prep Checklist Before the Holiday Season Hits

Oklahoma doesn't get a gentle transition into winter. We go from mowing to a hard freeze in the span of a couple weeks, usually right when holiday plans are ramping up. Working through this list in the fall keeps a cold snap from turning into an emergency call.

Protect the plumbing first

Disconnect and drain garden hoses, install insulated covers on outdoor spigots, and shut off and drain any irrigation or sprinkler lines. Insulate exposed pipes in crawl spaces, unheated garages, and along exterior walls. Know where the main water shutoff is and make sure the valve actually turns — finding out during a burst pipe is the wrong time.

Get the heat checked before you need it

Change the furnace filter, run the system for a full cycle while the weather is still mild, and listen for anything unusual. A burning smell on the first run is typically dust, but rattles, delayed ignition, or a unit that short cycles need a technician. Also confirm the carbon monoxide detectors work — combustion appliances and closed-up houses are a bad pairing without one.

Seal the drafts

Weatherstrip exterior doors, caulk around window trim, and add foam gaskets behind outlets on exterior walls. Attic insulation depth is the single biggest lever on winter bills in older homes here, and it's cheaper to add than most people expect.

Gutters, roof, and drainage

Clear gutters after the leaves finish dropping so freeze-thaw cycles don't back water up under the shingles. Check for loose or missing shingles, damaged flashing around the chimney, and downspouts that dump against the foundation instead of away from it.

Outdoor spaces and holiday lighting

Inspect deck boards, railings, and steps before they're wet and icy. Use outdoor-rated lights and extension cords, plug them into GFCI outlets, and don't chain more strands together than the manufacturer allows. If you're running cords through a window or door, you probably need an exterior outlet installed instead.

Put the lawn to bed

Do a final mow, clear the leaves, drain and store the mower with fuel stabilizer, and hold off on fertilizing warm-season grass this late. A clean, unsmothered lawn comes back much thicker in spring.

Have a cold-snap plan

Keep cabinet doors under sinks open on the coldest nights, let a faucet drip on exterior walls, and know which neighbor can check the house if you travel over the holidays.

We handle furnace service, plumbing repairs, gutter cleaning, and exterior work throughout Shawnee, Tecumseh, and the surrounding area. Book fall service before the first freeze and skip the emergency rates.