How To Prepare Your House For Winter

October may technically still be Fall, but it is the perfect month to start preparing your house for Winter.  Here are some helpful tips to get the ball rolling. You can knock them out in a weekend or tackle them 1 by 1 depending on the weather forecast in your area.

Furnace Inspection

• Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.
• If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.
• Remove all flammable material from the area around your furnace.

Get The Fireplace Ready

• If the chimney hasn’t been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.

Check Foundations

• Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
• Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.

Check The Exterior, Doors & Windows

• Inspect exterior for cracks and exposed entry points around pipes, seal them.
• Use weather-stripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.

Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts

• Add extra insulation to the attic to prevent warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams. 
• Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.
• Clean out the gutters and clear debris from the downspouts.

Service Weather-Specific Equipment

• Drain gas from the lawnmowers.
• Service or tune-up snow blowers.

Prevent Plumbing Freezes

• Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
• Drain all garden hoses, blow out sprinkler systems.
• Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
• Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.
• If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.

Install Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

• Some cities require a smoke detector in every room.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and water heater.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work.

Winter. Spring. Summer.  Fall. No matter the season,  The Vertex Team is here to help with all of your mortgage needs. Feel free to call us today. 877-939-0339