Home Care Winter Maintenance

Love or hate winter, it’s here to stay for a while. Below I’ll give some basic tips for homeowners preparing for winter.

1.     Make sure your heating system is clean and working properly

Our furnace is generally one of the most complex and expensive systems in our home. Most maintenance services will require a technician but there’s simple things the homeowner can do like cleaning and or replacing the air filter often. Winter is a critical time to replace the air filter as you’ll probably be running your furnace more often than other months. Also, your windows will be closed, so the air circulating in your house should be as clean as possible.

2.     Check Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

The winter is the most prone season for fires caused by faulty heating systems. The first and most important step is taking care of your furnace. A second easy measure is making sure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors have new batteries and are working properly.

3.     Prevent Pipes From Freezing

This is another very important step that will prevent very expensive repairs to your home and plumbing. Make sure hoses are disconnect from the house well before temperatures start dropping below freezing. Also, make sure to set your heater to a minimum of 55 degrees.

4.     Winterize Doors and Windows

If you have older doors or single-pane windows in your home and live in a cold area, this step is very important. Most people do not realize how much energy can be lost through faulty doors and windows. Applying weather-stripping to problem doors and windows is an easy cost effective step that will also save you noticeable amounts on your energy bill.

5.     Check Roof and Clear Debris From Gutters

            Check your roof for potential spots where leakage could occur. If you have a chimney or             appliance on your roof make sure the flashing is properly sealed. Clean debris off roof and             gutters            and make sure down spouts are in place. This will prevent ice-damns and opportunities            for leaking. 

6.     Prepare entryways

Make sure your outside entryways are ice free. Lay down road salt if necessary and watch leaks in gutters or downspouts near entryways. Make sure your interior entryways have floor mats to prevent water damage to your floors.

7.     Reverse Fan

            Most fans will have a switch which reverses their direction. Reversing your fan will cause the             warm air to be pushed down. 

8.     Trim Tree Limbs

If you have large trees or overhanging limbs near the structure of your home, the fall/early winter is a good time to consider trimming them back. Winter storms and snow can put stress on trees and causepossible large scale damage to your home. Make sure you have the right tools for the job and consider calling the professionals as this is can be a dangerous job.

9.     Check Outdoor Lighting

            This is particularly important near entryways. Black ice outside doorways is a common cause for             injury during the winter months. Make sure you have lighting outside your entryways and that             the bulbs cast enough light that you can see steps and railings even in the night. 

10.  Make Sure You Have the Tools

            This one might seem obvious, but if you live in an area where snow is common you’ll want to             have a few snow shovels on hand, some rock salt, and perhaps even a snow blower if you’re in a             heavy snow area. 

            

            Hopefully these tips will be helpful as the flurries of winter descend down on us. Every home             and geographic area is different so make sure you know how to be the best prepared where you             live. Now go out and embrace the winter wonderland!