Seal Drafts - Seal holes, cracks, and openings in your home to stop the flow of heat through the walls and ceiling. Replace worn weather stripping and those worn out door threshold sweeps. Caulk the exterior doors and window frames to reduce drafts and water penetration.
Keep Your Pipes Pumping - Pay less for hot water by insulating pipes. This will also decrease the chance of pipes freezing especially if plumbing runs along and outside wall or in a crawl space.
Clean Those Gutters - Once the leaves fall, remove them and other debris from your home's gutters so that rain, melting snow, and ice can drain properly. Install downspout extensions to water drains away from the foundation. Install window well covers to keep leaves and snow out and reduce leaks.
Roof Tune Up.- Secure curled shingles with roofing cement, caulk the flashings at the chimney and step wall. There are reputable companies that will clean the gutters and do a roof tune up.
Roof Tune Up.- Secure curled shingles with roofing cement, caulk the flashings at the chimney and step wall. There are reputable companies that will clean the gutters and do a roof tune up.
Turn off and drain the exterior hoses. - Turn off the hose valve in the basement, open the small drain on the valve to drain the water. Open the exterior valve and remove the hose.
Furnace Care - A simple way to keep your home warm while cutting down on energy waste is by replacing your furnace filters or cleaning them as needed. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Gas and oil furnaces and fireplaces require annual cleaning and inspection by a qualified contractor.
Insulate - One of the most effective ways to keep a home warm is to install adequate insulation. This is especially true in attics and crawlspaces. Insulation helps keep the home cool in summer and warm in winter. There is some government funding available until March 2012 for upgrading obsolete furnaces, windows and adding insulation.
Check the exterior grading. - It is a long winter and lots of snow is anticipated. Make sure the grading is sloped to drain water away from the foundation and basement windows. If there a lot of snow built up and a quick thaw or rain occurs. Good grading could save you from water penetration into the basement.
Insulate - One of the most effective ways to keep a home warm is to install adequate insulation. This is especially true in attics and crawlspaces. Insulation helps keep the home cool in summer and warm in winter. There is some government funding available until March 2012 for upgrading obsolete furnaces, windows and adding insulation.
Check the exterior grading. - It is a long winter and lots of snow is anticipated. Make sure the grading is sloped to drain water away from the foundation and basement windows. If there a lot of snow built up and a quick thaw or rain occurs. Good grading could save you from water penetration into the basement.
Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors. These can literally save your families life.
This wonderful information was provided by:
David Wall, B.Sc.
david.wall@pillartopost.com
david.wall@pillartopost.com
