Winterizing checklist for Hudson Valley homeowners

Cold-climate homes need more than a furnace check before winter. Exterior faucets should be shut off and drained, gutters cleared so ice has nowhere to dam, and any exposed pipes in crawl spaces or garages insulated before the first hard freeze.

Weatherstripping around doors and windows is worth a quick check too — a drafty door doesn't just waste heat, it can let enough moisture in to cause condensation issues on cold surfaces nearby.

Outdoor furniture, hoses and anything not rated for freezing temperatures should be stored, and decks benefit from one last wash before snow sits on them for months.

None of this takes more than a weekend, but doing it before the first cold snap — rather than after a pipe freezes — is the difference between routine maintenance and an emergency repair.