Winterizing Your Home
With Fall comes the colder temperatures, so it’s best to Winterize your house and furnace in preparation for the cold. You don’t want to be caught in the middle of a snow storm and your furnace give up hope and leave you stuck in the cold, Winterize now!
Starting off, inspect your furnace. Get the HVAC professionals into your home to inspect your furnace and clean your ducts. Also, be sure to stock up on furnace filters so that you can change them monthly. Remove all flammable material from the area that surrounds your furnace, you don’t want anything to cause a house fire.
Next up, get your fireplace in tip-top shape. Cap or screen the top of your chimney to keep any debris, rodents, or birds out. If your chimney has not been cleaned in a while, you’ll want to call and get a chimney sweep to remove any creosote and soot build up. Go ahead and purchase your firewood (or chop it if it’s an option) and store it in a dry place away from the outside of your home. Inspect and make sure your fireplace damper is available for proper opening and closing.
Don’t forget to check the exterior, windows, and doors of your home. Inspect these areas for crevice cracks or exposed entry points around your pipes. If you’re to find any cracks, be sure to seal them. Also, use weatherstripping around your doors to prevent cold air from entering your home. Replace any windows that may have cracks in the glass.
Also, inspect your roof, downspouts and gutters. Clean your gutters out with a water hose and spray down the downspouts to clean out any debris buildup. Be sure to replace any worn roof shingles or tiles as well.
When winterizing your home, it’s important to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If you already have them, make sure they’re working properly and that the batteries are brand new. A fire extinguisher may come in handy as well, so it’s important to have one close by. With snow can also come power outages, so stay safe and prepare an emergency kit. Include indoor candles, matches, phone numbers for the utility companies, back up batteries, bottled water, non-perishable food items, and blankets.
Photo Credits: 3D Fire Place Survival Supplies
