Time to Prepare for Winter

It’s that time again.  Now is the time to take the appropriate steps to winterize your home.  Those of us using natural gas to heat our homes can expect higher utility bills this winter.  When you keep water out and warm air in, your winter will be more comfortable and, chances are, the following summer will be more repair-free than ever before. These tips should help you come through the winter as comfortable as possible.  

Keep the water out. Unwanted water in your home can lead to mold, mildew and rot, so keeping your home dry is important.

Replace broken or missing shingles. Inspect flashings around roof penetrations like plumbing vents.

Clean gutters and inspect both the gutter and downspouts for leaks. Make sure downspouts discharge water away from the foundation. Add extensions or splash blocks if necessary.

 Trim plants and bushes away from the house to prevent moisture and insect entry.

 Seal air leaks for comfort.

Check windows and doors for worn or missing weather-stripping.  If you can see light between the bottom of a door and the outside, it is time to adjust the threshold or replace the flexible seal. Doors swell in the winter, so don't get it too snug.

 Check plumbing where it goes into exterior walls or through the floor. If there is a hole around the pipe, seal with expanding foam.

 Seal electrical outlets and switches on outside walls with foam gaskets.

 Service furnace, water heater.  If your gas furnace is more than 10 years old, have it serviced annually before the heating season.  Newer furnaces require servicing only every two years. The same holds for your gas water heater; have it looked at every other year. Checking the gas fittings and performing maintenance on the burners and furnace blower are not things you should defer.  Also:  Vacuum heating registers and as far into the ducts as you can reach. If you have baseboard or electric wall heaters, carefully brush and remove dust and dirt from the cooling fins and fan.  Replace the furnace filter. Dirty filters can shorten the service life of the furnace. Examine the filter monthly during the heating season and replace if necessary. Check and clean electronic air cleaners every three weeks or so. Consider installing a setback thermostat to save heating dollars.

Roof: Make a visual inspection. Do not put yourself in harms way, so If you can't physically climb onto the roof, use binoculars. A roof should be straight. Any sagging might signal rotting sheeting. Look for missing, dried or broken shingles. Flashing (thin metal strips around vents and other roof openings) should be examined for leaks. Look for vents that might have become detached. If you spot any of these problems, get them repaired as soon as possible.

Chimney: Loose brick, crumbling mortar joints and missing caps are signs of neglect on brick stone chimneys. Hire a mason for these repairs. Your chimney should have a cap to keep out critters and moisture. Indoors, use a flashlight to inspect the inside of your fireplace. The damper should operate freely, and the flue should be free of creosote buildup, which can cause unwanted fires. If you use your fireplace frequently, schedule an annual cleaning with a professional chimney sweep.

Gutters and downspouts: Leaves and debris can clog your gutters this winter, creating a waterfall during a rainstorm that keeps moisture close to the foundation and forcing water from melting ice to seep back under the shingles. To remove wet leaves and debris, use a two-person system. One person works on the ladder, digging with a garden trowel or plastic scoop, while the other is stationed at the base of the ladder, holding it steady. Repair or replace sagging gutters and reattach loose downspouts. Ridge vents need to be kept unobstructed for your house to breathe correctly.

Insulation: Install attic insulation to eliminate drafts and lower heating bills. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, up to 45 percent of a home's energy loss is through the attic.

Heating system: An annual inspection and cleaning by a licensed heating contractor is a wise investment. Some tasks, including changing filters on a monthly basis, you can do yourself. A well-maintained heating system runs more efficiently and saves money in the long run. Registers, vents and duct openings also need to be cleaned. Your heating system should be cleaned more often if your family has indoor pets.

Air conditioners: Store or cover and seal a window unit tight with its tarp or cover. Insulate between the side of the unit and window frame with Fiberglas-covered fiberboard and caulk the gaps. Partially cover free-standing units, allowing them to breathe.

Humidifier: The water compartment needs to be cleaned annually and mineral deposits removed. Check and replace the absorbent media pads, which often dry out and deteriorate during the summer.

Smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide detectors: These don't last forever. One sign a smoke alarm needs replacing is when it beeps for no apparent reason. The unit's sensor is shot; replace the alarm. Most new models of carbon-monoxide detectors have test buttons. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions to test the detector. Alarms or detectors that are 10 years old or older should be replaced. Check batteries, too.

Doors and windows: Caulk, replace worn weather stripping and broken or cracked glass. Install storm windows. Seal during temperate weather because sticky materials stop sticking when temperatures dip below 50 degrees.

Siding: Repair or replace loose siding. Check for rotted wood siding and replace, if necessary.

Rodent infestation: Seal up possible entrances to your home using sheet metal, steel or concrete. Mice can squeeze through openings as small as a dime.

Concrete walls and driveways: Cracked, uneven driveways and walks will get worse over the winter. Repair or replace now.

Exterior faucets: Turn off the water supply before the first frost. A shutoff valve usually is situated in the basement or crawl space near each exterior faucet. Roll up hoses and store them in a dry place.

Pipes: Frozen water pipes aren't life threatening. However, frozen or broken pipes do cause damage to homes each winter. If pipes in the walls aren't properly insulated, they can freeze and rupture. (A 1/8-inch crack in a pipe can release up to 250 gallons of water a day, soaking floors, rugs and furniture.) To prevent the mess and aggravation frozen pipes cause, protect your home or apartment by following the simple steps below.

Before Cold Weather:

» Locate and insulate pipes most susceptible to freezing – typically those near outer walls, in crawl spaces or in the attic. Insulation made especially for this purpose is available.

» Wrap pipes with heat tape (UL approved).

» Seal any leaks that allow cold air inside where pipes are located.

» Disconnect garden hoses and turn off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.

When It's Cold

» Let hot and cold water trickle at night from a faucet on an outside wall.

» Open cabinet doors to allow more heat to get to un-insulated pipes under a sink or appliance near an outer wall.

» Make sure heat is left on and set no lower than 55 degrees.

» If you plan to be away, have someone check your house daily to make sure the heat is still on to prevent freezing, or drain and shut off the water system (except indoor sprinkler systems) before you leave.

If Pipes Freeze

» Make sure you and your family know how to shut off the water, in case pipes burst. Stopping the flow of water can minimize the damage to your home. Call a plumber and contact your insurance agent.

» Never try to thaw a pipe with an open flame or torch.

» Always be careful of the potential for electric shock in and around standing water.

Porch, patio, deck: Check shelter supports and foundations for rot or separation. Give decks an additional coat of sealer. Store or cover patio furniture, terra cotta planters and barbecues. 

Outdoor lighting: Make sure all switches, timers and bulbs are working. Advance timers for darkness arriving earlier.

Garages: Check the weather stripping at the bottom of your garage door. Moisture buildup tends to cause the bottom of garage doors to warp, preventing them from working properly. Accumulated snow and ice also will keep the door from closing correctly.