Spring cleaning is something a lot of people do, but probably only a few people understand what it is to winterize your home. It is a good plan every fall, to take a look at the house and see if it is prepared to get through another winter. Fall season, with the attendant dying out of leafy growth, is a good time to examine your house's walls, since it will be easier to spot any shrubs that are becoming invasive. Clean out roots and vines clinging to the siding, or else they may cause damage - even bricks are vulnerable.
When they are no longer needed to do any watering, the garden hose should all be emptied and rolled up to be placed into storage for the winter. The outside faucets need to have the water turned off, and then helped to drain dry. Have the garden furniture cleaned up and stored someplace dry, once you are done using it till the following year. In case you have any trees which are still young, and especially those that have not endured a winter, shield them by placing mulch around the base of their stems. All drainage ditches should be cleared to enable them to cope with any heavy rains.
Fireplaces pop into your head when the weather begins getting colder. Get your chimney swept soon enough, before the first cold spell, because that's typically when everyone wakes up and wants it done. If you use fire wood, do not postpone in finding someone and getting a good supply built up. When traveling around rural areas, you might find local people who sell fire wood, without lots of advertising.
If you use a fireplace in the winter, you should check all of your smoke alarms to make sure they are working. If you leave your Xmas lights up for the whole year, check that the cords remain flexible. If you are using storm windows, they should be fitted. You need to check if the weather-stripping has become dried out from the summer's heat and has to be replaced.
Confirm the effective working order of the stove hood filters, since during winter the windows are mostly closed. Check that the slope of the ground around your house will still allow water to flow away. When water goes on to drain into the cellar, or the foundation, that can be bad news for your house. To begin with it brings about wet rot, which could convert to dry rot after some time, which you sincerely want to do without. Regularly check out your home for signs of seepage.
Leaking cannot be kept at bay forever, so check the places where leaks most commonly occur, these being the roofing, the guttering, the downpipes and the interior plumbing. Make it a priority to get any existing leaks you find fixed. Wrap any exterior pipes, undoubtedly so if your house is older, and minimize drafts by placing a cover over air-conditioning units. It is a good idea to shampoo the carpets and rugs, since dust is more noticeable in the winter. While you are at it, you might as well wash the windows.
When they are no longer needed to do any watering, the garden hose should all be emptied and rolled up to be placed into storage for the winter. The outside faucets need to have the water turned off, and then helped to drain dry. Have the garden furniture cleaned up and stored someplace dry, once you are done using it till the following year. In case you have any trees which are still young, and especially those that have not endured a winter, shield them by placing mulch around the base of their stems. All drainage ditches should be cleared to enable them to cope with any heavy rains.
Fireplaces pop into your head when the weather begins getting colder. Get your chimney swept soon enough, before the first cold spell, because that's typically when everyone wakes up and wants it done. If you use fire wood, do not postpone in finding someone and getting a good supply built up. When traveling around rural areas, you might find local people who sell fire wood, without lots of advertising.
If you use a fireplace in the winter, you should check all of your smoke alarms to make sure they are working. If you leave your Xmas lights up for the whole year, check that the cords remain flexible. If you are using storm windows, they should be fitted. You need to check if the weather-stripping has become dried out from the summer's heat and has to be replaced.
Confirm the effective working order of the stove hood filters, since during winter the windows are mostly closed. Check that the slope of the ground around your house will still allow water to flow away. When water goes on to drain into the cellar, or the foundation, that can be bad news for your house. To begin with it brings about wet rot, which could convert to dry rot after some time, which you sincerely want to do without. Regularly check out your home for signs of seepage.
Leaking cannot be kept at bay forever, so check the places where leaks most commonly occur, these being the roofing, the guttering, the downpipes and the interior plumbing. Make it a priority to get any existing leaks you find fixed. Wrap any exterior pipes, undoubtedly so if your house is older, and minimize drafts by placing a cover over air-conditioning units. It is a good idea to shampoo the carpets and rugs, since dust is more noticeable in the winter. While you are at it, you might as well wash the windows.
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