Winterize Your Home 

Winterizing Your House
By Daniel R.

Too many people buy a home not knowing the proper steps to maintain it. So let me offer a few steps for general winterizing maintenance. For starters a warm house is very important so the furnace should be maintained on a regular basis. Typically an inspection should be performed at least once every two years for proper furnace efficiency. Also make sure the furnace filter is being replaced as required. The humidifier filter on the furnace should be replaced as required as well.

Another good idea during the fall is to clean your dryer vent. A clogged dryer vent can be a very big fire hazard. Annual cleaning of the dryer vent, under the dryer and the dryer itself should be performed. For houses with an attic fan, a good idea is to remove or cover the fan with a piece of plywood or plastic to avoid excessive heat loss.

Moving on to the outside of the house there are some important things to consider when it comes to winterizing your home. One of course is to clean the gutters and downspouts. Proper cleaning will avoid ice dams in the winter which will help avoid roof damage. If you have in-ground sprinklers you need to have the water in the lines blown out in the fall. It's a good idea to have a professional do this. Also turn off all water valves on the outside of the house.

Another good thing to do, but not as critical, is to clean the windows before it gets too cold outside to clean them. Having nice clean windows to look at during the winter season can add a very refreshing feeling to your house. Unlike with dirty windows that can feel frustrating especially if you can't clean them until spring. When perennials start dying in the fall it's a good idea to cut them off at the base. Just make sure you do not pull them out of the ground because you want them to grow back in the spring.

Every house is different and some homes may need more or less jobs done. I know these tasks can feeling overwhelming, especially to a new home owner, but try not to do everything at once and spread things out over the course of about two months. Doing this will make things seem more manageable and will give you piece of mind knowing that your house is properly maintained.

Daniel R. is a husband and a father of two who desires a clean and efficient home. Hopefully this information helps.

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