Winter is a long, cold season, and the harshness of the climate in many areas around the country cannot be understated. Without proper preparation and maintenance, your home may become severely uncomfortable for you and your family. In many cases, things can begin to fail, leading to expensive home repairs. Now that we’ve entered the fall season, it’s the ideal time to ensure everything in your home is working well so that you can enjoy your home as much as possible throughout the winter. This checklist will help you to perform a thorough fall update of your home.
1. Protect Your Pipes from Freezing
Winter weather is notorious for freezing pipes. Frozen pipes can lead to ruptures, leaking water, flooding, and even structural damage. Keep the temperature above freezing in your water pipes’ area. If possible, keep a heat lamp on the lines or add a layer of insulating material around the area. Make sure you open the faucet enough to allow the air to circulate freely. If your pipes are in direct contact with your house foundation, insulate them using a foam board. You may also consider wrapping your outside water pipes with insulation pipe covering.
2. Tune Up Your Furnace
Start by making sure your furnace filters are clean. If it’s been more than a few months, replace them completely. You may also need to replace worn-out parts such as belts or rollers. If you are unable to do this, have the furnace tuned up by a professional technician. They will identify any issues with your furnace and adjust them for optimal winter performance. Your furnace helps to keep your house warm. If it breaks, your home will be very uncomfortable in the winter. Furnace repairs can run you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
3. Prepare Your Fireplace
Set up your fireplace to be ready for this chilly season by cleaning off any debris from the firebox. Clean or replace the ashes in the firebox and keep the flue clean and clear of debris. You should also check that the damper is properly aligned so that you can close it tightly during winter. If you have an electric fireplace, make sure to keep it tuned up and running as well. A close inspection during fall should reveal any issues that need to be addressed before winter sets in. If you have a wood-burning stove, ensure that your chimney is in good working order and free from cracks. Have an expert inspect your fireplace for any potential hazards.
4. Inspect Your Water Heater
Stop for a moment and think about how much water you use daily. Do you take long showers? How often do you run the dishwasher or do laundry? Your water heater should be able to keep up with your daily activities. However, without proper maintenance, it can easily fail. You should ensure that the pilot light is still working and inspect the tank for loose fittings or corrosion, among any other maintenance recommended by the manufacturer.
5. Clean Ducts
Your ducts can easily become clogged with dust and dirt, leading to poor air quality. You may also experience overheating in some areas of your house due to an inadequate ventilation system. A thorough cleaning should be part of your fall home maintenance checklist. A simple vacuum with a HEPA filter is ideal for cleaning out dirt or dust buildup in your ducts. Start the vacuum from the lowest outlet and work your way up.
6. Check Bathroom Vent Fans
Your bathroom should be kept clean and at the right temperature to make it comfortable. If there are issues with your bathroom vent fans, humid air from a hot bath or shower will not be removed from the space throughout the winter. Your bathroom fans are especially important if your bathroom does not have any windows. Check your vent fans for any obstructions and make sure they vent outside the house.
Protect Your Home with a Warranty
Even if you are perfect with your maintenance routine, things can still break during the winter months, which is never a good thing. Losing your water heater or your furnace during the winter is not fun, but you can at least protect your wallet with a home protection plan. With Everything Breaks, we cover the costs of repairs and replacement of many home systems. We’ll help you get the repairs scheduled immediately and without the hassle of jumping through hoops.
Find out more about our home protection plans today.
