By
Mel Oldakowski
The
cool autumn air and changing colors are upon us! This serves as a reminder to
start prepping for the cold season ahead. Yes, it’s coming! Imagine, on the
coldest winter day, you get out of bed and realize you can see your breath. You
check the thermostat, only to realize the furnace has stopped working. That’s
why fall and winter home maintenance is so important! Letting it go until it’s
too late can lead to bigger problems and big-time headaches. Here’s a few
things you can tackle while the weather is still nice.
Service
your heating system.
Early
fall is a great time to beat the rush and have a heating specialist come out to
look at your furnace. To keep your furnace from failing when you need it most,
you should have it serviced at least once a year. These tune-ups keep it
running longer and can identify deadly carbon monoxide leaks. It’s always best
to have a professional give your entire furnace system an overview. Don’t be a
jack of all trades!
Have
your fireplace and chimney cleaned professionally.
A
chimney should be cleaned after each season—ideally before summer hits, because
humidity plus the creosote can damage masonry. However, if the chimney wasn’t
swept last spring, make sure it’s done before you use it this winter. A dirty,
blocked, damaged, or improperly built chimney can result in CO poisoning, which
can be deadly.
Replace
screen doors with storm doors.
Storm
doors are typically made of aluminum and strong glass and are designed to
create a tight seal. This seal will prevent heat from escaping, improving your
home’s energy efficiency.
Add
attic insulation and check for gaps in existing insulation.
Proper
insulation is one of the most important ways to keep the heat inside your home
where it belongs. Gaps and thinning areas of insulation occur naturally over
time. Attic insulation keeps heat inside the house (lowering energy bills),
keeps temperature consistent between rooms, and helps prevent ice dams.
Insulate
hot water pipes.
Unfinished
basements, crawlspaces, and attics typically don’t get heat from your central
heating system. This makes any pipes running through these spaces susceptible
to heat loss and freezing. Install simple foam pipe insulators to keep them
warm and conserve energy.
Add
or replace weather stripping.
Weather
stripping blocks outside airflow through cracks on moving components, such as
doors and windows. Blocking this airflow can help reduce energy loss and lower
your energy bill by as much as 20+%. If
you already have weather stripping installed on your doors and windows, now is
a good time to check it out and replace where necessary.
Take
care of your gutters.
Once
the leaves have fallen and before the first snow, take time to make sure your
gutters are in good shape for the winter. They’ll need to be clear of debris,
free of leaks, and strong enough to handle snow in order to be effective all
season long.
Trim
tree branches and remove brush.
Dead
or weak tree branches can pose a physical and financial risk if not taken care
of before winter. Strong winds and snow can break susceptible branches, which
could fall on your house, your neighbor’s house, or power lines. Clear any
leaves, brush and piles from your yard, particularly around your foundation.
Don’t
forget to stock up on supplies.
Stock
up on ice melt, candles, matches, flashlights, batteries, ready-to-eat food,
and plenty of warm blankets for those times when the power checks out. Check
your snow shovels and snow blower. Are all your tools in good working order?
It
is best to be prepared for a long winter ahead so you can enjoy the warmth
inside.
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