Buying a new home from A&G Residential means stepping into a space that’s been built with your dreams in mind! Each home boasts beautiful craftsmanship, practical floorplans, and features that make everyday life feel effortless. One of the keys to keeping your A&G home in like-new condition is simple seasonal care, especially as North Carolina’s temperatures begin to drop. While we don’t usually see brutally cold weather here, we do see the occasional freeze, bouts of damp air, and wide temperature swings that can put stress on your home’s materials and mechanical systems.

A little prep now goes a long way toward keeping your home warm, efficient, and comfortable. Consider this your go-to guide for getting your A&G home winter-ready—inside and out!

Give Your Heating System Some Attention: All year long, your HVAC system is hard at work doing the heavy lifting to keep your home comfortable. Winter is its shining moment, and an annual tune-up is one of the smartest investments you can make. 

• Book a Professional Heating Check: A licensed technician should take a close look at your system annually, before the first cold spell. They’ll examine heat exchangers, test electrical components, calibrate thermostats, and scan for air leaks that can reduce efficiency. Most heating and cooling companies in our area offer maintenance plans that include seasonal inspections. This is often the most cost-effective way to keep your system running smoothly.
• Fresh Filters Equal Clean Air & Lower Bills: New construction homes can accumulate fine dust for months after move-in. Swapping your home’s filters every 30 days through that first winter keeps your furnace from working overtime while improving indoor air quality.
• Get to Know Your Thermostat: Many of our A&G homeowners opt for programmable or smart thermostats, but many forget to explore their features until they need them. Spend a few minutes running through the settings while making sure schedules and temperatures reflect your home’s daily routine. Lowering the temperature overnight or while you’re out of the house is one of the simplest ways to save energy without sacrificing comfort.
• Reverse Those Ceiling Fans: Ceiling fans typically include a switch that reverses blade direction. For winter, set them to run clockwise at a low speed. This gently circulates warm air downward, reducing cold pockets in your living spaces.

Eliminate Drafts and Keep Heat Where It Belongs: A&G Residential homes are built with tight construction standards, but even the best-built homes can develop small air gaps over time. A quick inspection now will prevent heat loss in the winter.

• Check Weatherstripping: Walk around exterior doors and windows, looking for flattened or cracked strips. Replacing worn sections is inexpensive and makes an immediate difference in comfort.
• Examine Door Sweeps & Garage Seals: Make sure door sweeps brush cleanly against the floor and that your garage door gasket is still flexible. These barriers play a surprisingly big role in keeping cold air outside.
• Close Your Fireplace Damper: It’s easy to forget, but an open damper functions almost like an open window. Close it when your fireplace isn’t running to prevent heat from escaping.
• Try the Candle Test: On a breezy day, hold a lit candle near windows and doors. If the flame moves, the area likely needs new sealing. Small fixes can lead to noticeable savings on monthly heating costs.

Protect Plumbing Before the First Freeze: While true deep freezes are rare here, the few cold snaps we do get can cause issues, especially with exterior plumbing.

• Disconnect Outdoor Hoses: Leaving hoses connected is one of the top causes of frozen spigots. Remove them now and shut off the interior valve if your home includes one. Open the exterior valve afterward to release any trapped water.
• Use Faucet Covers: A few dollars spent on insulated spigot covers can prevent hundreds of dollars in damage. Keep a couple on hand for nights when the temperature drops quickly. Foam pool noodles cut to fit are a great DIY option, and a single noodle will offer enough foam for several spigots!
• Know Where the Main Water Shut-Off Is: Every household member should know how to turn off the main valve in case of an emergency. If a pipe freezes or leaks, seconds count. The quicker the main valve can be turned off, the less the potential damage.
• Warm Up Vulnerable Pipes: Garages, bonus rooms, and exterior walls sometimes house plumbing lines. Keep these spaces at least 55°F during cold nights, and consider letting faucets drip slowly if temperatures are expected to fall below freezing.
• Open Cabinet Doors During Extreme Cold: Allowing warm air to circulate around pipes under sinks adds extra insurance during unusually frigid weather.

Prep Your Outdoor Living Areas: A&G homes are known for their inviting porches, patios, and outdoor gathering spots. A little prep keeps those features looking great and functioning well.

• Protect Furniture: Store cushions, cover furniture, or move delicate items indoors. Moisture and freezing temperatures can cause warping, rust, or fading.
• Winterize Outdoor Kitchens: If your home includes a prep sink, grill area, or built-in appliances, clean them thoroughly and turn off water lines where applicable. Covers will help protect finishes from weather damage.
• Tidy Up Landscaping: Trim back shrubs and remove any dead branches from trees. This reduces the risk of damage during ice events and improves visibility along walkways.
• Drain Irrigation Systems: If your home has an irrigation setup, schedule a professional blow-out to prevent underground lines from cracking.
• Store De-Icer: A small bucket of pet-safe de-icer is handy for those occasional freezing rain mornings. Apply it on steps and walkways for added safety.

Look Up! Roof, Gutters & Drainage. Your home’s roofing and gutter system stays quietly at work year-round, but winter storms can be tough on it.

• Clear Gutters & Downspouts: Debris like pine needles, acorns, and leaves pile up fast in our region. Clean gutters keep water flowing properly and reduce the risk of overflow freezing on walkways.
• Do a Quick Roof Check: Use binoculars to look for missing shingles or gaps in flashing. If you spot anything unusual, call a roofer before cold weather sets in.
• Check Soil Grading: Walk around your yard after a good rain and watch where water flows. Make sure ground slopes away from the foundation to prevent pooling near vents or crawl spaces.

Prioritize Safety in Every Season. Winter is the peak season for indoor heating, so take a moment to inspect safety devices.

• Refresh Batteries: Test all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and replace their batteries, even if they only serve as a hard-wired device’s backup.
• Locate Fire Extinguishers: Make sure your kitchen, garage, and any workshop spaces have accessible extinguishers and that everyone knows how to use them.
• Review Fireplace Use: Gas fireplaces should be tested for proper ignition. Wood-burning fireplaces should be cleaned and inspected every other year to reduce creosote buildup.

Create Good Habits Your First Winter. If this is your first winter season in an A&G Residential home, congratulations! Now is the perfect time to build routines.

• Review your home’s builder packet or warranty info and plug seasonal reminders into your calendar.
• Check attic insulation annually to ensure it has stayed evenly distributed.
• Keep a dedicated folder with receipts and service notes, as they will be helpful for resale and long-term care of your home.

A&G Residential Homes are built for comfort all year long. From energy-efficient windows to durable exteriors, our homes are designed to perform beautifully throughout North Carolina’s ever-changing seasons. A little winter preparation now will help preserve your investment, keep your home operating at peak efficiency, and give your family a warm, worry-free place to enjoy the colder months.

Considering a move? Reach out to the team at A&G Residential Homes to explore thoughtfully designed floorplans in communities throughout the region. With each option crafted for comfort, durability, and lifestyle, you’ll soon find that unmistakable feeling of being “home.”