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Home Maintenance

Preparing Your Home for Winter

Winter weather can wreak havoc on your home. Let’s look for a few easy ways to prepare your home for the Winter.

Furnace Inspection

  • Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.
  • If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.
  • Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

Get the Fireplace Ready

If the chimney hasn’t been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.

Check Foundations

  • Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
  • Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.

Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows

  • Inspect exterior for cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
  • Use weather-stripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows

Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts

  • If your weather temperature will fall below 32 degrees in the winter, adding extra insulation to the attic will prevent warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams.
  • Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.
  • Clean out the gutters and clear debris from downspouts.

Service Weather-Specific Equipment

  • Drain gas from lawnmowers.
  • Service or tune-up snow blowers.

Prevent Plumbing Freezes

  • Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
  • Drain all garden hoses, blow out sprinkler systems.
  • Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
  • Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.
  • If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.

Install Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

  • Some cities require a smoke detector in every room.
  • Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and/or water heater.
  • Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work.

About Author

Natalia Blackie is a licensed Colorado Real Estate Agent specializing in Residential Homes Sales in the Denver Metro and surrounding areas. Her background includes over 20+ years of Marketing experience.