02/05/2025
🧐🧐🧐 Don't Forget Winter Maintenance For Your Home 🧐🧐🧐
We all take care of our winter tire swap & dig out our parkas/woolies but your HOUSE also needs to be prepared for Arctic Plunges or whatever the next trending weather tagline may be...
Here is a wee checklist for you to run through to ensure you don't have any winter emergencies...
🥶 Tune-Up Heating System�
Schedule a professional heating system inspection. Your furnace fan works harder in the winter to pull in a lot of air filled with dust and dirt.
Halfway through the winter, consider changing out the HVAC filter. A clogged filter produces cold spots and can reduce airflow, making your furnace work overtime.
🥶 Seal Windows & Doors
Consider sealing some windows with plastic or an insulator kit.
Stop leaks around doors with foam or weatherstripping.
Add storm doors to exterior doors you open frequently.
Replace or add caulk outside to windows, door frames, crevices or any place where heat is escaping. Make sure to choose an exterior caulk made for colder temperatures.
Cover windows with heavier draperies or curtains.
Hang fabric or towels over pet doors or mail slots.
🥶 Adjust Ceiling Fans
Cold air stays close to the floor while heated air rises. Especially true with vaulted or high ceilings. In the winter, make sure to adjust the direction of your ceiling fans. The right ceiling fan direction can help regulate the warmth of a room.
Locate the fan switch that allows you to direct the blades to turn clockwise or counterclockwise. Change your fan’s blade direction to clockwise. This will move the heated air down the walls and across the floor. Use the lowest speed setting and the room will feel cozier overall.
🥶 Check Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors (they expire every ten years)
This is ESPECIALLY important during winter!! First, make sure to keep it free of any dust or debris clogging its vents. Hit the test button to ensure it's proper. If the alarm doesn’t sound, it is broken, expired or needs a new battery, or perhaps a new alarm if that doesn't do the trick!
All smoke detectors expire and should be replaced after 10 years. Look for the expiration on its sticker or the manufacturing date inside the unit. If there is none, I would suggest replacing it!
🥶 Add Insulation
It should be 10 to 14 inches deep. Add more insulation spaces where you feel drafts. Replace any torn or missing insulation.
Dropping temperatures can cause water pipes to freeze and burst. Use tubular insulation to cover any pipes.
Turn off outside hoses and check for any leaks.
Use spigot covers to prevent outside faucets from freezing.
Limit heat loss by covering wood or tile floors with area rugs.
🥶 Clean Chimney & HVAC Vents
A blocked chimney can release harmful fumes. Have your chimney and flue professionally cleaned. Between uses, or if you never use your fireplace, use a chimney balloon to block cold and wind.
Improve your HVAC’s efficiency and your home’s air quality by having its ducts cleaned (especially if you have pets).
🥶 Keep Gutters Clean
🥶 Check Trees & Shrubs
Nothing quite like a winter storm (think back to that ICE NIGHTMARE from years ago!!) to blow through & reek havoc... potentially costing your mucho dinero!!
Make sure to keep branches trimmed away from power lines & the roof.
Be ready to cover plants and shrubs to protect them during freeze warnings.
