Is Your Home Ready for Winter?

I got the following information/advice from one of my favorite inspectors, Bud Monk. His contact info is at the bottom.

It’s that time of year again, and fall & winter are just around the corner. Are you ready?

Some things to think about in getting ready for Winter.

• Check your AC condensing unit or your evaporative cooler (swamp cooler)
  • Clean the leaves and debris from the fins with a high pressure water hose or leaf blower, etc.
  • Cover the unit to protect it from snow and ice.
  • Drain swamp cooler and cover to prevent cold air from blowing back into the house.

• Check your furnace (or have it serviced by a qualified HVAC technician). Turn the thermostat up to 80 and check to make sure the furnace fires and is running properly.
  • Change the filter if necessary.
  • Lubricate the blower fan.
  • Check your smoke and CO detectors to confirm they are working!!!!
• Check your chimney and fireplace.
  • If you use your fireplace, be sure there are no bird or squirrel nests in the chimney.
  • Verify that the chimney cap is in place and didn’t blow off during a summer storm.

• Remove and drain your hoses.
  • Disconnect the hoses from the hose bibs and drain the hoses.
  • Turn off the water to the hose bibs and open the valve. Or install the protective foam covers.

• Drain the sprinkler system.
  • Turn off the water supply to the system.
  • Open all the zone valves and blow out the lines
  • Open the valves and drain the water from the vacuum breaker.

• Remove the debris from the roof and the gutters.
  • Debris laying in the valley(s) can trap moisture and accelerate the deterioration of the shingles.
  • Debris in the gutters can prevent them from draining properly.

• Storm windows.
  • If you have storm windows, now is the time to install them.

• Check the weather stripping on doors and windows.
  • Repair or replace damaged weather stripping.
  • Check and repair / replace caulking around windows and doors.

AND, if you are leaving your home for an extended period of time, have a professional “winterize” your home so that nothing will freeze during your absence. For anyone wanting to do their own winterizing, I have a checklist that is available which will lead you step by step through the process of “winterizing” and “de-winterizing”. The checklist will probably contain several items the average person would not be aware of.

Bud Monk – A-1 Quality Home Inspections – 303.981.6699 – email: vcm_456@yahoo.com

Website: https://www.a-1qualityhomeinspections.com/