It’s that time of year again for those of us in the upper midwest, ice cold temperatures mean ice, and snow and some seasonal maintenance on your part now will help in saving future expensive repairs and inconvenience.
These seven tips will help protect your home against damage and make your home more comfortable for the winter season.
Implementing these seven tips will save on future expenses and inconvenience!
1. Clean out the Fireplace and Chimney
Clean the fireplace and chimney before firing up the fireplace in winter. A clean chimney means a safe fireplace.
2. Inspect Smoke Detectors
You’ll use more heaters and the fireplace in winter, and you never know when an accident or a fire may occur. Checking all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, replacing batteries, and checking that the sensors work correctly will prepare you for emergencies.
3. Seal Your Home
Sealing your home keeps it warmer by helping to retain heat and help you save on energy bills. Warm air can easily escape through cracks and gaps, making your heating system work overtime, thus increasing utility bill costs. Sealing your home can also help protect against water damage and water leaking in and freezing, which could wreak havoc on the structural integrity of your home.
4. Inspect and Service the Heating System
You will depend on your heating system to keep you and your loved ones warm in the following months. So have it checked and serviced before you start using it.
5. Check and Replace all Weather Stripping.
Weatherstripping needs replacing every fear years as its efficiency reduces with age. Check and replace worn or cracked stripping around windows and doors. This will help protect against damage and help ensure energy efficiency of your home.
6. Drain and Turn Off Outside Faucets
The outdoor faucets can freeze in cold winter temperatures. So failure to shut off and drain the lines can lead to burst or cracked pipes and facets and a disaster.
Faucets exiting your home should have a shut-off valve where the faucet leaves the basement or where the faucet pipe branches from the primary source.
Have a licensed plumber install them if you don’t have shut-off valves.
Completely drain off the outside faucet after turning off the water from the inside. Once you drain the water, close the drain plug and turn the outdoor faucet off.
7. Clean and Check the Furnace
Regular maintenance keeps the furnace running in top form. Start by cleaning or replacing the furnace filter to improve the air quality and efficiency.
Follow the cleaning instructions if cleaning permanent filters, and ensure you get the correct-sized replaceable filter if changing it.
Have an HVAC professional inspect any furnace over 15-year-old to ensure it’s working correctly before use. They can detect potential problems and offer advice about improving the furnace’s efficiency.
Vacuuming around the furnace and inside the floor and air intake vents improves air movement. It is always better to have the home professionally cleaned if you have pets or have moved into a newly built house.
These seven steps will help prepare your home for fall. Do not hesitate to hire a professional to prevent injury and damage if you aren’t comfortable handling the tasks yourself.
These seven tips from Preferred Insurance Agency will help you protect your home from damage and wear and tear. In order to take additional steps to protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances you can contact Preferred Insurance Agency of La Crosse or visit our Google Business page to read reviews and get contact information.
If you are in the Jackson County or Black River Falls area you can contact Preferred Insurance Agency of Black River Falls, or visit our Black River Falls office Google Business page to read reviews and get contact information.