Five Important Winter Maintenance Tips for your Home
Though we may not want to admit it, its hard not to notice that the temps have started to fall and that the winter here in New England is on its way.
Whether or not we get record setting snow and temperatures this year, homeowners should ALWAYS take the change of seasons as a chance to perform much needed maintenance on their homes.
Here are five important winter maintenance tips to make sure your home is ready for whatever Mother Nature has is store this Winter. For a full list of our preferred vendors, be sure to download the FREE App below
- Clean out your dryer vents. Before you hunker down for the winter and bundle up under your Snuggie, take the time to vacuum and clean your dryer vents. Doing this will help prevent lint build-up that can create a fire hazard.
- Change your furnace filters. These should be changed at least every 60 days, but take the time before the winter shut-in of your home to remember to change the filter. A clean filter will obviously help your furnace run more efficiently during the winter, but it will also help keep your air free of dirt and other particles that can contribute to sickness. Also, if you haven’t had your furnace serviced in the last year or two…now is also a good time to have someone come in and look at it.
- Drain your exterior spigot. If you don’t have a burst-proof spigot (the spout on the exterior of your home that connects to a water hose), the extreme cold of winter could cause the pipes connected to the spigot to burst. To keep that from happening, make sure there’s no water left in the spigot pipe by the time cold weather hits.
- Be sure your pipes are well insulated. Although your pipes shouldn’t run through exterior walls, they sometimes do, especially in older homes. If that’s the case, proper insulation will help to keep them from freezing.
- Have your chimney checked. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, soot can collect over time and clog the chimney. Have a professional look at your chimney every year or every other year to prevent a fire hazard during the winter months.
These are just a few winter maintenance tips to help keep your home safe, clean and running this winter. For specific instructions, you can always ask your local real estate gurus (like the Pro’s) or contact your insurance company.
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