Home Repair and Improvement Help:
Winter Home Maintenance to Winterize Your Home

With winter coming, it is time to consider a little preventive home maintenance. For the most part, winter brings on a whole new dimension in home maintenance. Even in places that are likely to have mild winters, there is still a need to prepare for the change in weather. Here is a list of things to consider:

1. Let’s start with the exterior of the house:

• Drain the garden hoses
• Check hose bibs (if you are in a cold climate) check for unprotected pipes
• Close those vents to crawl spaces (especially near plumbing)
• Get the gutters cleaned and inspect them to assure they are securely attached and working properly
• Trim trees and remove the dead branches
• If you have storm windows that are removed – reinstall them
• If you have a basement, check to see if the windows are shut tightly.
• Check chimneys for lose, deteriorated, or missing mortar
• Examine caulking for deterioration around doors, windows, and joints between wood and masonry
• Replace worn weather-stripping around exterior doors

2. With the onset of winter, you will start hearing a lot more about fire prevention. This is because with the colder weather, heat systems and auxiliary heating devices are used in the home, adding to the risk of fire. These devices should be checked for safety, of course. Now is also a good time to:

• Check your smoke detectors and change the batteries
• Check your C.O. detector (if you do not have one – it is a small investment for your safety)
• Plan an escape plan with your family in case of fire (and have a practice drill)
• Talk to your children about fire prevention
• Check that garage for flammable items – making sure they are stored properly
• Check your fire extinguisher (keep one in the kitchen – they are inexpensive)

3. Before cold weather, you need to have your fireplace inspected and chimney cleaned before using your fireplace.

4. Have your heating system inspected. With regular servicing of your heating system, you benefit by burning less fuel and a system that gets regular service is less likely to break down.

5. Gas-fired furnaces should be serviced yearly and inspected. Since gas-fired furnaces burn cleaner than oil-fired furnaces, you need not have the flue cleaned every year, but the flue should be checked to make sure there are no obstructions. Your service tech will:

• Check for C.O. leaks
• Inspect the blower system
• Inspect gas lines
• Inspect flue system
• Check filter
• Check Heat Exchanger

6. You can save yourself costly repair by just changing your furnace filter on a regular basis. Remember, even in the summer you need to change your filter if you have central air conditioning. The blower on your furnace is the same one that circulates the cold air.

7. Oil-fired furnaces need to be serviced annually as well. Since oil does not burn as clean as gas, the flue needs to be inspected every year. Depending on the age of the unit and how clean it burns, the flue may have to be cleaned annually as well.

8. Boilers need to be serviced annually whether they are hot-water systems or steam.

9. Heat pumps and electric furnaces also need to have annual inspection to prevent untimely breakdowns.

10. Outside air conditioning units and swamp coolers should be covered

The cost of annual home maintenance is a small price to pay for the safety and comfort of you and your family. Keep your home safe and comfortable.