rn
rn
Below are ten tips to help you prepare your home for winter:
rn
1) Furnace Inspection
rn
- rn
- Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.
- Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.
rn
rn
rn
2) Get the Fireplace Ready
rn
- rn
- If the chimney hasn’t been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to clean & inspect the chimney.
- Buy firewood or chop wood. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.
rn
rn
rn
3) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows
rn
- rn
- Inspect exterior for cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
- Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk around windows.
- Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood.
rn
rn
rn
rn
4) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts
rn
- rn
- Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home.
- Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.
- Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.
rn
rn
rn
rn
5) Service Weather-Specific Equipment
rn
- rn
- Drain gas from lawnmowers.
- Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.
- Buy bags of ice-melt / sand.
rn
rn
rn
rn
6) Check Foundations
rn
- rn
- Rake away debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.
- Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
- Seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime.
- Secure crawlspace entrances.
rn
rn
rn
rn
rn
7) Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
rn
- rn
- Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and / or water heater.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work.
- Buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher older than 10 years.
rn
rn
rn
rn
rn
8) Prevent Plumbing Freezes
rn
- rn
- Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
- Drain garden hoses.
- Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
- If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.
rn
rn
rn
rn
rn
9) Prepare Landscaping & Outdoor Surfaces
rn
- rn
- Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.
- Plant spring flower bulbs and lift bulbs that cannot winter over such as dahlias in areas where the ground freezes.
- Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.
rn
rn
rn
rn
10) Prepare an Emergency Kit
rn
- rn
- Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment.
- Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies (including pet food, if you have a pet), blankets and a first-aid kit in a dry and easy-to-access location.
- Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency
rn
rn
rn
rn
rn
