For Park City residents and property owners, the time to prepare for winter is in the fall. If you have never lived in a place with four seasons, this could be a revelation, like it was for me. For example, if you wait until snow is falling to get your snow tires, you will be disappointed to know that there aren’t any left that fit your car. Or just try to get the HVAC guy out on the first powder day, when you discover you have no heat. Parkites know that this is the time to get ready for winter. The following are tips I have gleaned from living in the Wasatch Back for 20 winters.
- Check your HVAC system. We finally got smart and had our HVAC provider visit our home every October to check and service our furnace and boiler. This is a low cost, low stress appointment and well worth it.
- Check your doors & windows. Look for gaps that may bring cold weather into your home. You can buy “door draft stoppers” to place at the bottom of doors to prevent drafts.
- If you have a wood-burning fireplace that you use, have your chimney swept and inspected. The wait for chimney sweepers during the winter can be several months.
- Program your thermostat. This is especially important if you are traveling during October. Weather can change in a day and you don’t want to risk frozen pipes.
- Invest in snowmelt systems. Our first Park City home in Jeremy Ranch had a heated driveway. This was a necessity because the driveway was steep and long. The great thing about a heated driveway is that you don’t have to worry about snow piling up on the sides of your home. Most people do not have heated driveways and sidewalks, but heat tape and/or heated gutters on roofs may be necessary to prevent ice dams (very common with Park City’s weather), “roofalanches”, and dangerous icicles.
- Clean your gutters. There are professional gutter companies, handymen, or you can do this yourself. It’s important to ensure gutters are not clogged prior to the start of winter. Fall leaves dropping from trees are notorious for clogging gutters.
- Have a plan for protecting your outdoor furniture. This could mean placing the furniture or just the cushions indoors, or covering everything. If you are leaving town in October, check the weather and prepare your outdoor space before you leave. You don’t want your expensive outdoor cushions and pillows blowing into your neighbor’s yard or down the street.
- Blow out your sprinkler system. Get on your landscaper’s schedule to have your sprinklers blown out no later than the end of October. Otherwise, you risk frozen sprinkler pipes that will need to be repaired next spring, or worse. Shut off water valves, outdoor spigots, and detach hoses. If you have a pool or spa, make sure they are properly prepared.
- Check and/or replace carbon monoxide & smoke detector batteries.
- Get your skis tuned, get your warm weather clothes out of storage, wash all of your ski clothes, and buy your ski pass by the end of October.
- Buy snow tires early and put them on your car by the end of October, even if it hasn’t yet started snowing.