A checklist of things to do to prepare the condo for winter and spring. --- ### ✅ Winterization Checklist (Do in late Fall) - [ ] **Winterize Outdoor Faucets:** 1. 📍 **Locate the Valve:** In the basement, find the **red-handled shut-off valves** for the front porch and garage spigots. One is in the closet at the foot of the basement stairs. Look up and you're see the red value handle and the bleeder spigot. The other is above the left corner of your office desk. Pop the ceiling tile in that spot and you should see the copper pipe with the red value handle and the bleeder spigot. 2. 🔒 **Close the Valve:** Turn the red handle clockwise until it's completely closed. The red handle should now be perpendicular to the pipe. 3. 🚰 **Open the Outside Faucet:** Go outside and turn the spigot handle to the 'on' position. Water will drain out. **Leave it open.** 4. 💧 **Prep for Draining:** Go back to the shut-off valve in the basement and place a small bowl under the little metal bleeder spigot on the side of the valve. 5. 🔧 **Drain the Pipe:** Take off the brass cover and gently loosen the red bleeder spigot handle (you may need pliers). Air will enter the pipe, and the last bit of water will drain out into the bowl. 6. ✨ **Finalize:** Lightly re-tighten the bleeder spigot handle, reattach brass cover and, most importantly, **leave the outdoor spigot handle open all winter.** This gives any remaining frozen water a place to escape. - [ ] **Schedule annual furnace/heating system maintenance** to make sure it's running efficiently before the cold sets in. - [ ] **Store any patio furniture** in the garage or basement to protect it from snow and ice. ### ✅ De-Winterization Checklist (Do in Spring) - [ ] **Turn On Outdoor Faucets:** 1. 📍 **Confirm Outside:** Go to the front porch and garage spigots and make sure their handles are still in the open/'on' position from the winter. 2. 🔧 **Prep Inside:** In the basement, locate both red-handled shut-off valves (in the closet and above the office). Check that the little red bleeder spigot on each one is fully closed and its brass cover is hand-tight. 3. 💧 **Turn On Water:** Slowly turn both red handles counter-clockwise until they stop. The handle should now be parallel with the pipe. This opens the valves and lets water fill the pipes. 4. ✅ **Check for Leaks (Inside):** Briefly check that no water is dripping from the shut-off valves themselves. If they are dry, you are good to go. 5. 🚰 **Finalize Outside:** Go back to both spigots outside. Water should now be flowing steadily. Once you see a steady flow, close the spigot handles to turn them off. They are now ready for summer use. - [ ] **Schedule AC system maintenance** before the first hot day arrives. - [ ] **Clean window screens** of any pollen or dust that has built up. - [ ] **Bring patio furniture out** of storage. - [ ] **Check smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries** (a good habit to do every spring and fall when the clocks change).