Home Winterizing Maintenance: 5 Checklist Items Pre-Winter

Good preparation means starting early. Take these tips to heart today so your chores will be easier when the cold fronts descend on your part of the world:

1. Get the furnace inspected

One of the most important parts of wintertime living is keeping the heat flowing, so make sure your furnace is running at its best. HVAC professionals can get very busy with faulty furnaces during the late winter months, so calling in the early fall will help ensure you get the work done.

2. Look at your roof and gutters

Now is the time to replace any worn shingles, inspect the flashing and add insulation to your attic. Watch for debris in the gutters and downspouts as well – snow melt can lead to serious runoff, and that needs to be directed away from your home to avoid water damage. Can’t get up on your roof? No worries – a good contractor can handle the inspection in less than an hour.

3. Inspect your windows

Many homes lose a great deal of heat through tiny cracks around windows and doors. Not sure how your windows and doors are doing? Try the candle test. In a perfectly still room, light a candle and hold it near the top, bottom and sides of your doors and windows. When the candle flickers, you have a draft. In some cases, new weatherstripping or caulking can remedy the issue. If you need replacement windows, now is the time.

4. Remember the chimney

A thorough chimney inspection is necessary to make sure your fireplace is safe for winter use. If it hasn’t been cleaned in a while, contact a chimney sweep for help. While you’re at it, put fresh batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

5. Do basic maintenance.

Small maintenance tasks are often overlooked, and that can wreck havoc on your spring.

• Drain water hoses or sprinkler systems
• winterize your lawn mower
• store summer gardening equipment
• Trim back tree branches that overhang power lines to prevent damage from ice-laden limbs.

Autumn is the best time to start handling the tasks that can make winter much easier. Whether you need window replacement, a clean chimney or more insulation to avoid an ice dam on the roof, get it done now before the harsh weather makes the work more difficult.