Back Home6 Tips to Get Your Home Ready for Winter
November 5th, 2017 by keithandkinsey
Winter can be rough on your house. Here’s a few tips to keep your home safe, more efficient, and protected from damage.
- Disconnect your exterior hoses – Leaving a hose connected can trap water in the stem of your hose bib which will eventually freeze and crack. Yes, this even happens with frost -proof faucets, you just won’t notice until the first time you turn the water on in the spring.
- Change the batteries in your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors – a carbon monoxide detector could save your life if a gas burning appliance such as your furnace or water heater is not operating or venting properly.
- Have your furnace or boiler inspected – I’ve had 2 furnaces in rental units cause problems this fall. It’s always a good idea to make sure these are tuned up, cleaned, and in good working order before we really need them.
- Clean your gutters – A clogged gutter will build up with ice faster and make any ice damming problems worse.
- Inspect your chimney or gas fireplace vent – If you have a wood burning fire place it’s good to make sure your flue is in safe operating condition. If you have a gas fireplace, check your vent, it’s a common place for birds to build nests.
- Reverse your ceiling fans – If your fans blow upward during the winter, this will push the warmer air off the ceiling and you won’t feel the cold draft.
