Fall is a good time of year to prepare your home for winter weather. A little maintenance is required to ensure a safe and comfortable winter.
Here are 5 tips to help you prepare your home for winter:
1. Heating System Inspection
- Have your heating system inspected and cleaned. Have your HVAC duct work cleaned.
- Change the air filter on your furnace
- This is a good time to change your thermostat to a programmable one. Programmable thermostats allow you to set the temperature lower when you are away from home thus saving energy and money.
- Remove all flammable materials from around your furnace.
2. Chimney Inspection
- You should have your chimney cleaned at least once a year. Creosote build-up is a major cause of chimney fires.
- Inspect the chimney cap and exterior mortar joints for cracks where water can get in.
3. Inspect the exterior of the home
- Inspect the foundation for cracks and seal to prevent water penetration.
- Remove screens from storm doors and replace with the storm glass.
- Check for air leakage around windows and doors.
4. Inspect the roof, gutters and downspouts
- Inspect the roof for missing or damaged shingles.
- Inspect roof flashing.
- Clean gutters and downspouts. This allows water and snow melt to be directed away from the house.
5. Service Weather Specific Equipment
- Now is the time to make sure your snow blower starts and runs. You don’t want to wait until the first snow storm to realize it will not start.
- Do you have a working snow shovel? Do your vehicles have ice scrapers?
- Winterize all your power equipment you will not use until next spring.
With a little bit of preparation you can ensure your home is ready to provide you with a comfortable and safe place to enjoy all that winter brings.
