With snow days, cozy nights in and family-uniting holidays at every turn, being a homeowner in winter is especially rewarding. But it’s also arguably the most work. Winterizing your home for the weather means a lot more than stocking up on wood for the hearth. It essentially means taking stock of all of your home accessories, especially those that will remain outdoors all season.

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From cars to pools to backyard fire pits, let’s not spare any details as we look at ways to winterize your property. 

Grill

To keep your grill in top shape throughout the harsh winter months when it probably isn’t being used as frequently, be sure to clean and store it properly.

GIve your grill a thorough cleaning. Remove the components and scrape the inside of the grill using a sturdy bristle brush. Take an old rag and a bucket of hot soapy water and clean every surface of the grill both inside and out. Don’t forget to empty the grease tray. If you are storing your grill for winter, make sure it’s completely dry before packing it away.

Hose

In winter months, your garden hose isn’t quite the workhorse it was in the spring and summer. To make sure it isn’t damaged by cold weather, remove it from the outdoor faucets and store in a safe place.

If your hose will be stored in a garage or shed that could reach freezing temperatures, Porch advises laying the hose out flat and straight to let the water drain out completely before storing away for winter. This will help keep it from freezing and damaging the hose material.

Sprinklers

If you have an underground irrigation system, before the temperatures dip it’s wise to drain or flush your sprinklers. Angie’s List suggests the compressed air blow-out method to achieve this. 

Porches

If your screened porch has removable screens, be sure to replace them with the Plexiglas or glass panes. This will keep your entertaining space safe from the elements and any furniture enclosed protected. 

Patio Furniture

Before storing for the winter, clean patio furniture with water and, if needed, a cleaning solution that is safe for the material. Once cleaned, Houzz recommends using furniture covers for anything that will remain outside.

Roof

No one wants to find out about a leaky roof during a big snow storm. View your home from different angles and use binoculars to inspect it thoroughly for any damage. By checking the shingles, flashing and vents before winter is fully underway, you could avoid pricey repairs later.

And to keep your roof in shape for the spring thunderstorm and tornado season, be prepared to inspect things again after winter.

Driveway

Don’t wait until meteorologists are predicting winter precipitation before checking on your snow removal supplies. Be proactive and stock up on the essentials—de-icers, ice melt, shovels and snowblowers—well before you actually need them.

And to make it easier clearing snow from your driveway, insert durable plastic or metal sticks in the ground to outline your driveway. That way you can use your time removing snow more efficiently, and you can get to work or the grocery store easier after the storm. 

Garage Door

To keep your garage protected from the elements, check the weather stripping on your garage door. Stock up on replacement batteries for your garage door openers and keypads to make sure you can access your garage door in a storm.

Mailbox

No matter the season, it’s essential to be able to send and receive mail. Add reflective tape or a reflector to your mailbox so it's visible during tough winter conditions. And cut the mailman a break while you’re at it. Keep your mailbox clear of snow and other debris to make their job easier.

Front Steps

Make sure you greet guests with a welcoming entrance instead of a slippery experience. Clear off snow before anyone takes a fall when stepping on the stairs. Finish up the job by applying salt or ice melt.

Hot Tub

Families with hot tubs don’t always have the luxury of keeping their miniature paradise open in winter. In those cases, swimuniversity.com has a 10-step to-do list. Steps include turning off the power, draining your tub and cleaning the cover before securing it on.

Car

Putting on winter tires is the most important factor in winterizing your car. Replace your windshield wiper fluid with a de-icer to quickly remove ice from your windshield

Shed

As far as your backyard shed goes, Outdoorlivingtoday.com has suggestions for your interior, exterior and roof that’ll boost longevity. First, they recommend sealing cracks in your shed with caulk to ensure pests can’t get in. Cracks can also be hiding behind shelves or around hooks and wall-mounted items, so be thorough. Also, make sure doors and windows are sealed to prevent cold air from getting in. As for the roof, check that there are no overhanging branches that could cause damage, or damaged panels waiting to cause trouble.

Pool

The key with winterizing a pool, according to Pentairpool.com, is to not drain it completely but instead leave water to the height of the skimmer mouth. Frozen water expands, so a full pool means you risk severe damages like cracked pipes. But an empty pool means the soil around the pool can expand and lift the pool right out of the ground.

Next, you’ll want to remove water from the pipes and disconnect the pump and filter. Put a weight in the middle of your covered pool so rainwater moves to the center during winter. Over that, put on a winter cover, which is more sturdy than a summer cover. 

Basketball Hoop

For families with a basketball hoop in the driveway, Spalding recommends draining the water from the base of the hoop. Also, removing the netting because overtime, it can deteriorate. When springtime comes, you can replace the water and put your netting back in place.

Fire Pit

Winterizing a backyard fire pit is essentially an exercise in removing accessories. According to Outdoorrooms.com, you’ll want to remove debris, close the gas valve and remove the propane tank and other accessories before putting a cover over the pit. For your cover, a material like vinyl should do the trick.

Tiki Bar

Unlike other outdoor enjoyments on this list, Deckdesign.learnabout.info urges homeowners to not cover their tiki bar during winter. Doing so traps in moisture, which can cause damage to the wood over time. Instead you can cover the bar for a few days at most in the midst of a storm.

Koi Pond

If you don’t have a thermometer in your koi pond already, you’ll need one for winter. You can attach the thermometer to a string and keep it by the edge to monitor temperature drops. If the pond drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Drfostersmith.com, you’ll no longer need to feed your fish because their digestive system can’t process food at such low temperatures.

 Playground

Child safety is obviously key when it comes to winterizing your playground. According to Whirlconstruction.net, adding an extra layer of primer to wooden playground structures is a great way to decrease slippery surfaces.

Door

Does the chill in the air follow you inside—even long after you’ve closed the door and settled in front of the fireplace? It may be time to check the weather stripping. Any door that leads outdoors should have weather stripping on the bottom to prevent cold air from flowing in. 

Windows

Just like your doors, windows that aren’t sealed air-tight can let cool air seep into your home and cause your heating system to work overtime.

Dean Bennett, president of Dean Bennett Design and Construction, Inc. in Castle Rock, Colo., told weather.com that sealing windows is a breeze with an insulation kit.

You also want to check that the locks on your windows work. They keep your windows shut so that no additional air can come in. 

Chimney

If you have a wood burning fireplace, make sure your chimney is safe before putting a log on. Bennett advises calling in a fireplace professional who can sweep the inside of your chimney. And while they’re there, they can take a moment to make sure the chimney cover is in good shape. 

Gutters

Fallen leaves may have clogged your gutters during the last few months, and they definitely need to be cleared before winter, which can wreak havoc on them, arrives. Luckily, according to Bennett, doing so is relatively simple. "You want to inspect them and run a hose through them," he said. 

Down Spouts

When flushing your gutters, you’ll also want to clear your downspouts. These are critical to helping direct precipitation flow away from your home as ice and snow melts. Bennett said that running a hose through them just like your gutters will do the trick.

And don’t forget to check their positioning. When working properly, downspouts should direct water away from your home, not alongside of it and definitely not toward it. 

Sidewalk

Prepping your sidewalks for winter follows much the same procedure as prepping your driveway—you want to make sure that all of your snow removal equipment is ready to go.

If you need to stock up on equipment, Bennett said to look for shovels with metal blades. "Plastic blades will wear down over use and scratching along the sidewalk," he said. "Once [the blade is worn down], it won't cut through the snow very well and you'll need a new shovel."

Front Walk

If you have a pathway from your driveway or the sidewalk to your front door that is used regularly during the winter, be prepared to clear it just like you would the sidewalk and driveway. 

Pipes

During winter months, your plumbing should be protected if you don’t want to suffer frozen or busted pipes. Per the New York Department of Security and Emergency Services, one way to do this is to insulate your pipes that are most susceptible to freezing. 

Lawn and Garden

Even with ice and snow, winter can be a notoriously dry season—even for outdoor vegetation. Bennett suggests watering your plants every so often, especially shrubbery, which in his experience can take to dry weather the worst.

The expert also recommends insulating your garden for winter to keep them from drying out. "You're supposed to pile mulch higher up onto the plant and that will preserve the plant during winter," he said. Add mulch "close to the base, six to eight inches up and that will protect the root of the plant much better."