If you are buying firewood, make sure you select a licensed firewood dealer. A cord of wood is defined as eight feet long by four feet high and four feet wide. Ask specifically for dry, seasoned wood. Have your chimney cleaned by a licensed chimney sweep. Make sure the fireplace damper is in the closed position when the fireplace is not in use.
Clean your rain gutters and downspouts. Have the seals around any openings in the roof—such as chimney, skylights, and plumbing vent pipes inspected for signs of deterioration. Roof leaks are the most common source of water damage in the home.
Inspect exterior walls, foundation, patio, steps and walkways for cracks or deterioration that could present a tripping/slipping hazard or allow water to seep in and freeze. Major signs of deterioration should be repaired professionally (ck my previous blog article for hiring a contractor). However, cracks less than ¼ inch wide can usually be caulked by the average handy homeowner.
Shut off water valve to outside faucet, drain water and disconnect hoses. This will prevent freezing pipes.
Keep warm in and cold air out by inspecting insulation to ensure that the layer over the heated part of the house is at least six inches thick. Put storm windows on or use plastic sealant if necessary. Visually inspect and replace damaged or missing weather-stripping around doors and windows.
Check the furnace to ensure that the air circulation fan and the burner are operating properly. Replace dirty air filters and check the operation of the thermostat. To further conserve fuel, it is recommended that thermostat settings not exceed 72 degrees during the day and 65 degrees at night.
Change your batteries in your smoke detector and use a carbon monoxide detector if you have a wood fireplace or gas appliances.
Doing your work now will help ensure that your home is ready for winter and save you hard earned dollars. No one wants to wake up Christmas morning without heat (been there)!
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