More than gutters; prepare for winter

​Prep Your Home for Winter

According to Felton, "by performing a little preventative maintenance now, you can avoid minor problems from growing into huge headaches in the spring." "Minor repairs completed now can prevent air and moisture intrusion from compromising the structural integrity of your home in the future," he continued.
As an example, cleaning up the rain gutter in the fall will aid in the prevention of ice damming in the winter, which occurs when moisture is driven up under the roofing shingles during the freeze-thaw cycles of the winter months. When it comes to repairing ice dam damage and leaks in the spring, Felton says, "our roofing contractors are constantly busy."

Home maintenance tasks that should be included on a homeowner's winterizing checklist include the following:

Once all the leaves have been cleared from the rain gutters, clean them out thoroughly. Check the drainage of the garden hoses to ensure that they are working properly and that downspouts are working properly and are directed away from the home's foundation walls. Examine your gutters, downspouts, and hangers for signs of leaks or damage. Remove rust from the gutters and repair them using roofing cement. Caulk any leaking seams and double-check that pop rivets are securely fastened.

Roof issue symptoms include cracked, buckling, or curling shingles, as well as bare places where the granular coating has been worn away. Examine the flashing around vents, skylights, and chimneys for damage. Take note of any parts that have been peeled back and any cracks in the caulking that could allow moisture to seep in.

-> Have the chimney cleaned, and inspect the exterior structure for signs of wear such as worn flashing, loose bricks, or crumbling cement.

-> Have your furnace cleaned, examined, and verified for safety before using it. Based on your system, you may require a thorough cleaning of the furnace as well as the replacement of the filter and inspection of the pilot.

Examine the attic louvres for evidence of wasp nests and cover any openings, especially those under the eaves, with sheet metal, wire screen, or wood to prevent animals from nesting there.

-> Take your window air conditioner out of service and put it somewhere safe. Before covering the unit for the winter, make sure the coils and filters are cleaned and free of debris. If you plan to leave the air conditioner in the window during the winter, make sure you cover it with a waterproof cover to keep it safe.

-> Thoroughly clean your lawnmower and other garden tools before putting them away. To keep your tools from rusting, wipe off all of their metal parts with an oiled rag after each use. Disconnect the fuel lines from gas-powered devices and turn the engine on to ensure that the lines are clear. Drain the oil and replenish it with new oil. Remove any grass or debris that has become caked on.

-> Inspect the caulking and weatherstripping around doors and windows for appropriate installation. Put your doors and windows through the draft test by holding a lighted candle and running it along the seams. A flickering flame indicates that your heating bucks are being squandered prematurely. Keep an eye out for a tight threshold seal or door sweep at the bottom of doors.

-> Check to see that your fireplace is in proper functioning order. In order to reduce heat loss, ensure that the damper opens and closes smoothly and that it is properly fitted. Check the inside of the fireplace to verify sure there are no loose or cracked bricks. If your fireplace is smoking heavily, inspect the chimney for any broken bricks that may have fallen. Installing a chimney cover can help to cure a smoking fireplace by increasing the amount of draft it receives.

-> Before the first major freeze, drain any outside water pipes, hose bibs, sprinklers, and pool equipment from the house. Caulk the areas where pipes enter the home where they are exposed.
To store your BBQ for the winter, clean it thoroughly and store it in a dry, protected location. Propane tanks should never be kept indoors.

-> Wipe down patio furniture and store it in a dry location with a loose cover.

-> Wash windows to ensure that the most amount of heat and light is allowed in during the cold winter days.
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Almost ready for winter? Give us a call for a final cleaning and inspection – now’s the time to take care of any issue you might have identified.