How To Properly Prepare Your Home For The Upcoming Cold Weather

Now that the hot days of summer are over and the cool weather is upon us, you need to start preparing yourself for winter.

Waiting until winter to prepare is a bad idea. Winter weather can be too cold to handle some of the necessary tasks. Also, the days will start getting shorter, and you may not have time to take care of everything. Hence, it is crucial to get ready for winter this fall. To be sure that you are fully prepared for the cold and extreme weather, you should follow the checklist below.

Furnace Tune-Up Company Shares A Fall Maintenance Checklist

If you can check each item off the list before winter begins, your home will be in good shape when the freezing weather hits.

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Be Sure To Clean The Gutters & Downspouts

During the fall, leaves and debris will fall from the trees, resulting in your gutters and downspouts becoming clogged. When it rains, the water won’t drain. Instead, it will pool in the gutters. However, when the temperature drops and the water in the gutters freeze, it can create ice dams on the roof which can be damaging. You can clean the gutters and downspouts yourself, or you can hire a professional.

While cleaning the gutters and downspouts, you should also make sure that they are hanging correctly. If the gutters are sagging or if the hangers are loose, you should use this opportunity to tighten them up. The same is true if the brackets that hold the downspouts are loose. Finally, make sure that the downspouts extend at least five feet from the foundation of your home. If they are too close, it can result in damage to the foundation which is very expensive to repair.

Walk Around & Inspect The Exterior Of Your Home

Before winter, you should take a walk around the house and inspect the exterior. It doesn’t take long and, therefore,  is not an all day project. It should only take a short time.

When you are walking around the house, you should look at the exterior to see if there is any damage to the foundation and the siding. While walking around the house, you should also check the ground for shingles that have fallen from the roof. Next, check the roof itself. If you notice any buckling or lifting shingles, you should contact a licensed roofer to make the necessary repairs.

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Get Rid Of Air Leaks: Seal Gaps & Cracks

While you are inspecting the exterior of your home, you should look for gaps and cracks around the house. You should check the area around the windows and the doors, both inside and out.

Gaps in these areas can result in cold air leaking in the home. This can cause your heating system to work overtime to keep your home warm. Not only will this cause your energy bills to increase, but it will also decrease the lifespan of your heating system. These gaps and cracks can also cause condensation to build up in the home. Over time, this can result in mold growth which can be difficult to eradicate. When the gaps and cracks are sealed, the interior of the home will be safe.

Gaps and cracks can also create an entry point for critters to enter the home. When the weather gets cold, these critters will be looking for a warm place to stay. If they do find their way into the home, they can leave disease-carrying feces around the house. They can also get into your food and cause structural damage to the home. If you seal up the entry points with caulking or heavy-duty hardware cloth, it will keep the critters out.

Outdoor Plumbing: Turn Off the Exterior Faucets

During the winter, your pipes can freeze. Since you aren’t going to be using your outdoor faucets during the winter, you should turn off the water supply. Doing so will prevent any pipe freezing issues. Also, you should remove your garden hoses and store them in a dry place for the winter. Soring them out of the cold will keep them from cracking. Also, removing the garden hose will give you a chance to drain any excess water to keep it from freezing inside. Since you never know when the first frost of the year will hit, you should turn off the water supply and remove the hose in the fall. Be sure to cover your hose bibbs with hose bibb covers.

Winter Supplies & Winter Safety Gear

When summer ends, you should check your winter supplies. First, make sure that your snow shovels and windshield ice scrapers are in good condition. If they are cracked or damaged, you should replace them in the fall.

Next, check how much ice melt you have stocked up. Ice melt is a necessity during the cold weather. Therefore, you should make sure that you have some stored.

You should have winter kits in your home that include batteries and flashlights if you lose power during severe weather. You should also have a supply of bottled water and canned goods. It is a good idea to check your kits and replace anything that you used during the previous winter. Finally, if you use a snowblower, you should have it tuned up and have the oil changed. You should also make sure that you have a supply of gas to power it.

Fireplace Inspection: Check Your Fireplace

If you use a fireplace as an alternative heating source, you need to make sure that it is safe for use. First, shine a flashlight up the chimney to check for debris or birds nests. Anything blocking the chimney can result in a chimney fire when you light the fireplace. If you don’t already have a chimney cap, you should get one this fall. It will keep critters and debris from going down the chimney. To prevent cold air from coming into the home through the chimney, you should use a chimney balloon.

Get A Furnace Tune-Up For Energy-Efficient Performance

Before the heating season begins, it is essential that you hire a professional to clean and maintain your heating system.

The HVAC technician will use a furnace tune-up checklist to be sure that everything is completed and that the heating system will be in perfect working order for the entire winter.

The list includes cleaning the furnace burner and the heat exchanger. It also includes lubricating all of the moving parts. The tech will check everything off the list to ensure that the heater is ready for the heating season. Another necessary service the tech will perform is to check for minor issues with the heating system that can result in a complete breakdown if it isn’t repaired quickly. Also, during the fall, many HVAC companies offer furnace tune-up specials that help reduce the furnace tune-up cost.

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Conclusion

For those who are looking for a reputable heating system maintenance company and search for “furnace tune-up near me,” be sure to contact the professionals at R.F. Ohl.

Our techs have the knowledge and experience to handle heating system repairs, maintenance, and installations. Each of our techs is NATE certified, professional, and friendly. Best of all, our services are affordable.

To make sure that your heating system is ready for the winter, you should contact R.F. Ohl today to schedule a heating system maintenance check.

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