
Fall and Winter Home Maintenance Tasks You Should Do
With winter on the way, it is time to make early preparations for your home for this season. When the temperatures plummet and snow rushes down, a variety of issues can arise, including fire security dangers, water damage, and high energy bills. Here’s what you can do around your home to prevent most of these problems:
- Prepare an entryway shoe storage. Since winter contributes to snow, then you will need an area to drop off your shoes and keep your floor clean and water-free. Think about investing in boot trays, hooks, or cubes.
- Type out your garage. In addition, bring forward the tools you’ll have to attack the snow like snow blowers, snow shovels, and sleds. Also, consider laying down deicers facing your garage to be ready for the very first time the snow strikes.
- Critters like spiders and bugs are more inclined to enter your house during winter due to the chilly weather. Consider spraying the perimeter of your home with critter repellant merchandise.
- Protect outdoor furniture. Make sure your patio furniture and outdoor heaters are protected from the elements. If you can’t bring them indoors, protect them with covers. Don’t forget to wash out the kids’ sand table and the grill.
- Winterize your own windows. In case you have screens on your windows, then down them to allow more light to enter your home. Additionally, place draft snakes around windows to prevent cold air from entering the house. For extra protection against the cold, seal gaps and cracks around windows (and doors) with weather stripping and caulk.
- Empty plant pots. If you leave pots filled with clay out during winter, they could crack when temperatures fall. Take them inside to prevent this, but if you live in a warmer climate, it’s possible to just empty the baskets and leave them out.
- Has your furnace inspected? Before winter starts, have your heating system inspected by an expert to make sure that no issues arise when you need heating the maximum. Change the furnace filters each month during the chilly season.
- Do a fireplace check-up. When you have a fireplace, use a flashlight to check it for accumulation, cracks, or bird’s nests. Check the outside of the chimney for crumbling mortar and broken bricks.
- Insulate air ducts. On average, about 20% of the air that goes through the duct system is dropped in case your ducts are badly sealed. To prevent this, have your ducts properly sealed and insulated; you’ll save energy and reduce your yearly energy bill.
- Throughout winter, there is an elevated probability of heating equipment fires. Have your smoke and CO alarms inspected and replace the batteries prior to turning to the heat. Do not forget to also test the smoke alarms monthly to ensure they’re working properly. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
Check out more information to prepare your house for winter in this article. During the cold season, there’s also a heightened risk of power outages. Tips to prepare yourself for winter storm blackouts are available here. For professional mold elimination, in addition to fire and water damage restoration services, contact PuroClean of Lansdale office.