Getting your home ready for winter during the fall months is an activity we all do as homeowners. Cleaning the gutters and storing garden tools are some of the things everyone does, but what are some other things you need to do to prepare for winter? Here is a partial list but remember your home is unique and may need less or more things that you need to do.
- Hire a company to check your furnace- it is not only advisable but should be mandatory for every family. They should be able to tell you if you need to replace it, or even replace some parts.
- The water heater is usually in the basement of the home, they should be able to tell you if that needs to be replace as well. Replacing a water heater when they tell you can save you some headaches and extra work.
- Replace smoke detectors’ batteries or the smoke detector itself if it is not in very good condition.
- Make sure your AC is checked every year to ensure that is working well and to keep it in perfect condition.
For more tips and advice follow the links below.
Easy Home Winterizing Checklist
In the fall is when you want to get ready for the winter cold. The worst thing in the world is trying to put your storm windows in when its 20 degrees outside. Or worse, not having your sprinkler system purged before the freezing weather comes.
I’m going to give you a fairly easy checklist of things to do for the various systems of your home. From plumbing to roof, we’ll walk through each system and hit the major things to make sure you do before winter so you can enjoy the snow and not worry about your home.
OK, lets start with the basics of making sure you have heat when you need it. The time to check that is in the Fall, no later than the end of October. Give your system a test run through and make sure all systems are ” GO “.
Heating System Checklist
- Test Run:
Turn the thermostat to heat mode and set it to 80 degrees just for testing. You should hear the furnace turn on and warm air should blow within a few minutes. If it’s running OK, turn the thermostat back to its normal setting. If it’s not running properly, you can try to diagnose it as outlined in Troubleshooting a Gas Furnace. Depending on what’s wrong, you can fix it yourself or you may need a qualified service technician.
15 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Winter
Now that fall is officially here, it’s time to prepare your home for cold weather. These steps, most of which you can do yourself, will help lower your utility bills and protect your investment.
For about $80 to $100, a technician will inspect your furnace or heat pump to be sure the system is clean and in good repair, and that it can achieve its manufacturer-rated efficiency. The inspection also measures carbon-monoxide leakage.
If you act soon, you’ll minimize the chance of being 200th in line for repairs on the coldest day of the year. Look for a heating and air-conditioning contractor that belongs to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America and employs technicians certified by the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) program. The contractor should follow the protocol for ACCAs “national standard for residential maintenance” (or the QM, short for “quality maintenance”
7 Things To Do To Your Home Before Winter Comes
Your home requires routine maintenance and upkeep. As your home ages, it endures summer heat, winter storms and the typical daily use by each of your family members, pets and mother nature. Some home projects don’t require a ton of specialized skills and with the right equipment tackling these projects on your own may induce a strong sense of accomplishment. But for some projects, you’ll need to put the hammer down and realize that it is easier and ultimately cheaper (if you factor in your time) to call in a professional.
Here are a list of things you should be sure to tackle before winter. You decide what you can do and what you should hire a professional for. We’re simply providing the “honey-do” list before it gets cold.
