Here are some great tips by The Art Of Home Ownership for getting your home ready for winter while the weather is still bearable:
1) Furnace Inspection
* Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.
* Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.
* Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat.
* If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.
* Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.
2) Get the Fireplace Ready
* Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds.
* If the chimney hasn’t been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.
* Buy firewood or chop wood. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.
* Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.
* Check the mortar between bricks and tuck-point, if necessary.
3) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows
* Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
* Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.
* Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood.
* If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields.
* Switch out summer screens with glass replacements from storage. If you have storm windows, install them.
4) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts
* When the temperature falls below 32 degrees, adding extra insulation to the attic will prevent warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams.
* Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home.
* Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.
* Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.
* Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.
5) Service Weather-Specific Equipment
* Drain gas from lawnmowers.
* Service or tune-up snow blowers.
* Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.
* Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.
* Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand.
6) Check Foundations
* Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.
* Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
* Tuck-point or seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime.
* Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.
* Secure crawlspace entrances.
7) Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
* Some cities require a smoke detector in every room.
* 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.
Prevent Plumbing Freezes
* Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
* Drain all garden hoses.
* Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
* Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.
* If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.
9) Prepare Landscaping & Outdoor Surfaces
* Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.
* Ask a gardener when your trees should be pruned to prevent winter injury.
* Plant spring flower bulbs and lift bulbs that cannot winter over such as dahlias in areas where the ground freezes.
* Seal driveways, brick patios and wood decks.
* Don’t automatically remove dead vegetation from gardens as some provide attractive scenery in an otherwise dreary, snow-drenched yard.
* Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.
View this article and more at http://theartofhomeownership.com/.
