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Is Your Home Ready for Winter?

As temperatures begin to fall it is time to prepare your home for winter. Not doing the regular maintenance could mean you will be spending a lot more money this winter than necessary on heating your home.

Here are 10 maintenance tips to help you prepare your home for winter:

  • Have your furnace inspected annually. Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace annually and clean the ducts every 3 to 5 years. Stock up on furnace filters and change them every four to six weeks. This is the best way to ensure your furnace is running efficiently, help cut down on heating costs, and improve indoor air quality. Install a programmable thermostat to help lower heating costs.

  • Reverse ceiling fans. In the winter the blades should rotate clockwise. This will push the warm air down and re-circulate it through your room.

  • Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows. Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them. Ensure your door and window weather stripping is in good condition to prevent cold air from entering the home.

  • Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts. Consider adding extra insulation to the attic to 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. 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.

  • Service Equipment. Drain gas from lawnmowers. Service or tune-up snow blowers.

  • Check Foundations. Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house. Seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through a space as thin as a dime.

  • Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors. If you do not have a hard-wired carbon monoxide detector in your home, purchase a plug-in detector and put it near your furnace and water heater. 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 and turn off your outdoor water taps. Insulate exposed plumbing pipes. If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to a lower temperature.

  • Prepare an Emergency Kit. Buy indoor candles and matches for use during a power shortage. Store extra bottled water, non-perishable food supplies, and a first-aid kit in case of an emergency or power outage. Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.

  • Relax, knowing your home is in good repair and ready for the winter.

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