Winter Home Maintenance Tips

As days grow shorter and temperatures fall, it's time once again to get ready your home for the long winter months ahead. Taking a few minutes now to walk around your home--visually considering leading systems from a protection perspective and manufacture note of habit maintenance chores that need attention--is a great way to get started, and a good winter maintenance checklist can help.

Here are some tips to help get you started:

Gutter History

Clean gutters and downspouts. A clogged gutter or downspout can freeze and wreak havoc on your home. Make a point of checking your gutters and downspouts well before daytime temperature's dip below 32 degrees fahrenheit.

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Use the testing highlight on each expedient to make sure it's working. Replace batteries and inoperable units as needed.

Recharge or replace fire extinguishers. Check the gauge on every fire extinguisher to make sure it's fully expensed (arrow pointing to the green area of the gauge). Take off each extinguisher from its mounting bracket and turn it upside down to help prevent the dry chemicals inside from caking on the lowest over time. If your fire extinguishers are more than one year old, reconsider having them inspected by a professional.

Check furnace vents. If your home has a forced air furnace, check to make sure that vents in former living areas are open and unobstructed. You can partially close vents located in less oftentimes used rooms, but don't close them all the way unless you're sure there is no occasion of water pipes frozen as a result. Keep in mind that temperatures inside the walls of your home will be lower than adjacent living areas.

Stock up on furnace filters. Dirty furnace filters waste energy. They also force your furnace to work harder to heat your home. Your owner's hand-operated should illustrate what types of filters are best for your furnace, and how often they need to be changed. Keep in mind that a high-efficiency air filter will trap more dirt than a approved filter and may need to be supplanted more oftentimes to keep your furnace from overheating.

Schedule checkups for all home heating systems. regular maintenance can help furnaces, wood stoves, chimneys and other home heating components stay in top working order. Most experts recommend that you agenda an annual inspection by a distinguished pro for each system, but service intervals may vary from one ideas or maker to another, so play it safe and check your owners hand-operated or taste each heating ideas maker for guidance.

Replace worn out weather strips. Worn out weather stripping around windows and doors can dramatically increase your home heating costs. Weather strips are easy to replace, and should pay for themselves in a very short time.

Inspect the insulation in attics and crawl spaces. Over time, fiberglass insulation panels can sag away from rafters, joists and wall cavities, allowing cold air to penetrate your home. Duct tape can be used to reseat a small qoute area, but ample sagging may indicate a moisture problem. Try to decide the source of this qoute before you replace large areas of insulation. And, if you decide to replace the insulation yourself, make sure you follow maker guidelines for personal protective equipment.

Protect covering water valves. Hose bibs located in an unheated carport or on the covering of your home may need protection to prevent frozen damage. Cheap insulating covers are available at most home centers, but it's still a good idea to shut off the water contribute related to the hose bib from inside the home. After shutting off the water supply, open each hose bib to allow any remaining water to drain. Disconnect hoses and store them inside for the winter.

Winter Home Maintenance Tips

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