Every Autumn and Spring, it's important to take steps to properly "winterize" your home
or vacation property, especially if you don't typically spend a lot of time
there during months when the temperature drops below freezing. Nobody
wants to come back to the summer house and find a disaster situation
waiting for them when they were planning on a vacation. Falling
temperatures and weather changes require special attention and preventative
measures to ensure your property remains in great shape for next summer.
Here are a few things that you or we can do to help you prepare for the winter.
We also offer
Home
Watching services to alert you to any possible problems so can rest
easy and know that your property will be in top shape when you return.
1) Furnace/Air Conditioning Inspection
- Coordinate with a licensed HVAC professional to inspect your furnace/air
conditioning and clean ducts.
- Replace furnace filters.
- Monitor thermostat or install a programmable thermostat.
- If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleeding valves so they
don't rupture during freezing temperatures.
- Removing all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.
2) Get the Fireplace Ready
- Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds.
- Chimney sweeping to
remove soot and creosote.
- Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.
- Check the mortar between bricks and tuckpoint, if necessary.
3) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows
- Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes;
seal them.
- Weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the
home and caulking windows.
- Replace cracked glass in windows and if replacing the entire
window, prime and paint exposed wood.
- Switch out summer screens with glass replacements from storage. Installing
storm windows.
4) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts
- Adding extra insulation to the attic will 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 or tiles.
- Rain gutter maintenance to
clear away debris.
- Installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the
downspouts to direct water away from the home.
5) Service Weather-Specific Equipment
- Drain gas from lawnmowers.
- Service or tune-up snow blowers.
- Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.
- Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.
- Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand.
6) Check Foundations
- Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.
- Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
- Tuckpoint or seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through space as thin
as a dime.
- Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.
- Secure crawlspace entrances.
7) Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
- Some cities require a smoke detector in every room.
- Servicing smoke detector and batteries.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and / or water
heater.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work.
- Buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher older than 10 years.
8) Prevent Plumbing Freezes
- Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an
emergency.
- Drain all garden hoses.
- Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
- Drain air conditioner pipes and winterize your AC.
9) Prepare Landscaping & Outdoor Surfaces
- Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.
- Plant spring flower bulbs and lift bulbs that cannot winter over such as
dahlias in areas where the ground freezes.
- Seal driveways, brick patios and wood decks.
- Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.
10) Prepare an Emergency Kit
- Buy indoor candles and matches / lighter for use during a power shortage.
- Find the phone numbers for your utility companies and tape them near your
phone or inside the phone book.
- Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic
equipment.
- Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies (including pet
food, if you have a pet), blankets and a first-aid kit in a dry and
easy-to-access location.
- Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.
Count on us to take care of these important preventative measures!
Dave Williams
davewilliams07@yahoo.com
Long Beach Island, NJ
(609) 207-6056
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