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Easy Home Winterization tips
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Don't wait any longer to
prepare your home for winter. In the fall is when you want to
get ready for the winter cold.
The following is a fairly
easy checklist of things to do for the various systems of your
home.
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Heating System Checklist
- Test Run:
Turn the thermostat to heat mode and set it to 80
degrees just for testing. You should hear the
furnace turn on and warm air should blow within a
few minutes. If it's running OK, turn the thermostat
back to its normal setting. If it's not running,
depending on what's wrong, you can fix it yourself
or you may need a qualified service technician.
- Seasonal Maintenance:
Either have the furnace checked by a service
technician or do it yourself.
- Replace the Air Filter:
Put in a new clean air filter. Just like in the
spring when you start up your Ac units.
- Fuel:
If you have a propane or oil furnace, make sure to
have your fuel storage tank topped off and ready to
go.
- Heating Vents:
Clear obstacles to heating vents so air can freely
flow.
- Check for Carbon Monoxide
Leaks:
This silent killer can easily be detected with
either an inexpensive test badge or battery operated
alarm. Whichever way you decide, just please decide
to protect your family with one of these units.
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Central Air
Conditioning Maintenence
Often neglected is one of the most important
components of a cooling system. That is the
condensing unit outside churning away in the
heat of summer. Well this guy needs a little
loving too as winter approaches:
- Clean Condensing
Unit of Debris:
Take a hose with the spray head set to "jet"
or the highest pressure you have and clean
the fan blades and condensing coils of clear
of debris and dirt.
- Cover Condensing
Unit:
Left unprotected the condensing unit can be
damaged by wet leaves and debris that
contribute to rusting and freezing of
internal components. Although these units
are designed for outdoor use, covering them
with a breathable waterproof cover made for
that purpose goes a long way to extending
the life and efficient performance of the
unit.
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Chimney and
Fireplace
- Check that the
chimney is clear of any nests from
birds, squirrels or other animals.
- Check flue
damper operation. Make sure it opens
and closes fully, and that it is
able to be locked in the open or
closed position.
- Check chimney
draft. Make sure the chimney will
draw up the fire and smoke properly.
Test this by taking several sheets
of newspaper and rolling them up.
Then with the fireplace damper in
the open position, light the
newspaper in the fireplace. The
smoke should rise up the chimney. If
it doesn't, you have an obstruction
and need to call a professional in
to clean the chimney of creosote and
ash and possible debris.
- If it has been
several years (or never!) since you
had your fireplace chimney cleaned,
you should have it done by a
professional chimney sweep.
- Inspect the
fire brick in the fireplace. If you
see any open mortar joints have them
repaired imediately.
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Windows
- On a
day when it's windy outside,
close your windows and feel
for air leaks. You can use
an incense stick for this
too if you don't mind the
smell. Watch the smoke trail
and if it becomes anything
other than vertical, you
have an air leak. Typically
air leaks will be at the
edges where the window is
hinged, slides or meets
another unit, such as
between the two panels of a
double hung window.
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Although you can tape
plastic over the windows to
seal them, this can be
expensive and look bad. It
can also reduce much needed
light in the winter unless
you use the shrink-wrap type
of plastic seal. So a better
and easier solution is to
use inexpensive rope caulk
- Press
the rope caulk into all the
joints where air is leaking.
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Roof
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Check roof for
missing or damaged
shingles and have
them replaced.
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Check flashing
around chimneys and
other roof
projections which
are often the source
of leaks.
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Make sure your
gutters and
downspouts are
clean, having no
leaves. Wet leaves
remaining in the
gutters over winter
add significant
weight and volume to
the gutter when
frozen and increase
the risk of damage.
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These tips should prepare you
and your home for a safe and
efficient winter season.
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Imossi Home Inspections, Inc., P.O.
Box 93, Atlantic Beach, New York 11509
Phone: 516.425.5570 / Email: nimossi@ihi-homeinspection.com
© Copyright 2004 - All rights reserved by Imossi Home Inspections, Inc.
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