Is Your Home Ready for Winter?

October 13, 2011

This the time of year to think about preparing your home for winter. As temperatures begin to dip, your home will require maintenance to keep it operating in tip-top shape.

Here are tips to help you prepare your home for winter:

* Call us now to inspect your furnace and clean ducts
* Stock up on filters and inspect your filters monthly
* Consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat to save on your energy bill

* Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds
* If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for a while get it cleaned
* Get your wood supply ready
* Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing
* Check the mortar between bricks and tuckpoint, if necessary

* Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes
* Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows

* Consider adding extra insulation to your attic
* Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home
* Replace worn roof shingles or tiles
* Clean the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris

* Change smoke detector batteries
* Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and water heater
* Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work
* Buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher older than 10 years

From Winterizing Your Home at About.Com

“Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat”

We hope this list will help you prepare for the coming winter season. Now is a good time to get your HVAC system ready before the cold weather arrives!

Call us today for your HVAC maintenance visit. You will be glad that you did!

| Bob Woodall Air Care Systems |