Winterize Your House This Upcoming Fall

By Ryan C. Shaw


Spring cleaning is normally something many people do, but probably only a few people understand what it is to winterize the home. It is a good idea every fall, to take a look at the house and see if it is prepared to get through another winter. In the course of fall it is easier to examine the outside of the home, since the foliage is dying away and you can more easily see if shrubs are attached to the house. Clinging vines and plants roots damage siding and in many cases bricks, so it is good to keep them cleaned off.

Once you're finished watering for the year, you should drain all of the hose, and roll them up to be stored away. The water to any outside faucets should be turned off, so that they can drain and get dry. When you believe that you won't make use of the garden furniture again that year, get it cleaned and stored in a dry place.

In case you have any trees that are still new, and especially those that have not endured a winter, shield them by placing mulch around the base of their stems. All water flow ditches should really be cleared to enable them to cope with any heavy rains. Cold temperature naturally turns one's thoughts to fireplaces. Chimney sweeps tend to be in high demand wih the initial cold spell, so avoid the queue and get in early. You never know how the source of firewood will be, so if you are going to need some, try to locate some in plenty of time. When traveling around rural areas, you may find local people who sell fire wood, without lots of advertising.

If you leave your Christmas lights set up for the whole year, check that the cords remain flexible. If you usually install storm windows, the time has come to do it. Warm weather dries out weather-stripping, and so check if they need changing.

Over the winter season, the windows are still closed most of the time, so make sure that the filters in your range hood are in good working order. Check the land surface around your house to make sure that it still slopes away. You wouldn't like the problems associated with water getting into the basement or the foundation. The first affect is wet rot, which ultimately leads to dry rot, and this is definitely something to be avoided anywhere in your home. Regularly examine your home for warning signs of seepage.

It seems to be unavoidable that leakages come, and the most likely places are the roof, the gutter and down-spouts, and the inside plumbing. If you discover any leaks, you should obviously get them repaired. Encapsulate any external pipes, certainly so if your house is older, and cut down drafts by placing a cover over air-conditioning units. Your floor coverings ought to be shampooed to clear out dust which in winter is readily noticed. While you are at it, you might as well clean the windows.




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