Prepare Your Home for Winter
The cold is already here! Were you ready for the lower temps to hit? It's always smart to prepare your home for the winter weather and thus avoid cold-temp issues from happening. Here are some smart ways to prepare your home for the winter. If you haven't already done these, there's no time like the present.
Inspect Your Furnace
The cold is here, so it's a good thing to take a look at your furnace. Make sure to check the furnace filter to see if it needs to be changed. Many experts recommend the filter in your furnace to be replaced every few months. If you can't see light through it, it needs to be changed. You can also include checking the pilot light and thermostat, as well as opening all the heating vents to make sure everything is working safely. In addition to the things you can do yourself, it's good to have a furnace tune-up done every year as well to help correct minor issues, identify potential problems and help your system run at peak efficiency. Manufacturers recommend you have this annual service performed by a properly trained HVAC technician.
Disconnect Outside Hoses
This is an easy task that is often overlooked, but it can cause major problems once freezing temps hit. Make sure to disconnect hoses from all the outside faucets on your home, drain them and then store away to prevent them from being harmed by the cold winter weather. If you don't disconnect the hoses, the water that stays in the line can freeze and cause the pipes to burst and you may not notice the damage until you go to use the hose again in the spring. You can also choose to cover the faucet with a hose bib cover to provide additional protection to the hose bib during cold weather months.
Reverse Ceiling Fans
By changing the direction of a ceiling fan it creates an upward draft that redistributes warm air from the ceiling by pushing the rising hot air back down to your level.
Caulk Windows & Doorframes
To prevent heat from escaping, you can caulk around windows and doorframes in your home.Caulking and sealing openings is one of the least expensive maintenance jobs you can do and it can make a difference on your heating bill too!
Change Smoke Alarm Batteries
Don't wait for the low-battery chirp to tell you to check the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. It's recommended that you test smoke detectors once a month as well as replacing the batteries at least once a year. Add this task to your checklist to ensure your home and family's safety. One idea is to do this twice a year at the same time you change your clocks for daylight savings. Check out our video on How To Change Smoke Alarm Batteries.
Inspect The Roof
Make sure the roof is in good shape by checking for loose or missing shingles. Snow, wind, rain and ice along with temperatures rapidly can wreak havoc on roofs. Being proactive and dealing with roof upkeep and repair in the Fall is a lot better than discovering your roof is leaking during a snowstorm.
Clear Gutters
While fall leaves can be beautiful, they can also build-up in your gutters quickly making good drainage difficult as well as the possibility of more problems when winter arrives. To clear your gutters, remove any buildup you see, then use a garden hose to flush the gutter or a bucket of water to check the flow. Taking time to clear your gutters now can helps the water drain better, which gives you one less potential problem to worry about during the winter.
With these tips, you can prepare your home better for the cold winter weather. Let us know if you have questions or need any help.
Author: Amber Smith-Johnson
Copyright © 2018 by Any Hour Services
Oct 25th 2018
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