Tis the season for Holidays and the Winter weather that follows. These maintenance tips can help save you a lot of money during the Winter season so that heating costs don't burn up your wallet.
Regular maintenance on your home can prevent many small issues from building into costly ones. With Winter approaching fast here are some things you can do to prevent Winter woes from affecting your home.
1. Reverse your ceiling fan direction to get the updraft of heat, while in reverse it pushes the hot air down sending the heat your are pumping into your home throughout the room. Remember, hot air rises!
2. Inspect the roof for missing and/or loose shingles, holes in the roof or area in need of TLC, including the gutters, chimney and downspouts.
3. Seal around all windows and doors to achieve an air tight home. This can be done using caulking. Silicone caulk is recommended for outside use as it will not shrink or be affected by the elements. Weather-stripping is another useful tool to achieve that seal around doors, windows and other openings. Check to make sure no daylight is coming in from doors and window seals.
· Windows · Doors · Vents and fans · Plumbing areas · Air conditioners · Mail chutes · Electrical and gas lines ·
4. Exterior faucets and spouts need to be free of attached hoses, drain the water from the lines and turn off water when not needed. Un-drained water in faucets can freeze and expand, potentially leading to burst pipes as the ice expands, these repairs are costly.
5. Mow your leaves instead of raking them to provide nourishment through the Winter for your lawn. The leaves will decompose giving your lawn Winter food!
6. Get your Chimney inspected and cleaned. This process is cost effective and will test for Carbon Monoxide as well. Any heating source should be inspected to make sure there is not a risk of use.
7. Trim trees and shrubs near the building to prevent roof and or other damage to the property.
Now that these are done ENJOY YOUR WINTER! Your Home will thank you!