Get Your Home Winter Ready

I have found that first time home owners either forget or were never told that they have to prepare their homes for winter. My home inspectors typically tell them to tackle fall and spring maintenance (getting ready for winter or summer) when they change their clocks.

Here are five tasks to do around Daylight Savings that will help prevent damage and mitigate repairs. For each task I explained why it's important to do.

CHANGE THE BATTERIES

If you recently purchased your home then you don’t have to worry about your smoke detector (the state now requires 10-year sealed batteries in smoke detectors) however, you should double-check the batteries in your carbon monoxide detectors.

Why:  When fires occur, every second matters.  You want to know as soon as there is an issue so you and your family can get to safety.  Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas, it’s imperative to have a working detector since most people can’t tell there is an issue without one.

CLEAN THE CHIMNEY

Dirty chimneys can cause fires! When you use your chimney it creates soot and creosote, a thick oily build up that is flammable.

 Why: You don’t want a fire.  For typical use it is recommended that each fire place chimney be cleaned annually, if you use your fireplace on a daily basis, you may want to have it cleaned twice a year.

TURN OFF OUTSIDE WATER

Remove your hose and turn off the water to your outdoor spigots.  This is also the time to close up any fountains or other outdoor water features that aren’t designed to withstand freezing temperatures.

Why: You don’t want spigots or water lines to freeze.  Turning the water off is an easy way to prevent expensive repairs.

CLEAN THE GUTTERS

This year’s weather has pushed the timeline of the falling leaves back a bit, so you may want to wait another week or so. However, if you don’t have gutter guards it is recommended you clean your gutters every fall.  For homes surrounded by a lot of trees, you may have to do this twice a year.

Why: Clogged gutters cause water to run over the side, making them ineffective.  Water essentially goes straight down and can start to pool around the foundation.  Over time this can lead to significant water penetration and all the associated issues.

 CHANGE HVAC FILTERS

HVAC filters should be changed ever season (4 times a year).  Daylight Savings is an easy way to remember to do it for the winter and summer.

Why: Not only will changing your filters keep your system running well, reducing future maintenance issues, it’s good for your respiratory health.