Time to get your home ready for winter
If you haven’t yet, get your home ready for winter!
Night time temperatures hovering in the 40-degree level this week are a signal that this would be a good time to take a look at your home and get it ready for a Northwest winter.
You can take a good, hard look at how best to live comfortably with your home and ease into the reality of winter living.
A lot can be done to help limit heat loss and cut down on expense. Older windows and sliding doors have often been called a heat loss venting system. With the advent of combination storm windows and maintenance-free siding, some up-keep tasks have become relics of a bygone past. The newer windows being installed on new homes, and into homes being updated, have been a tremendous leap toward efficiency.
Even so, there are plenty of seasonal chores that will extend the life and enhance the value of your property.
It’s important to keep and consult a file of owner’s manuals and reference books on the various equipment in your home for detailed instructions on how to keep them in tip-top shape. Here are a few ideas:
Have the heating system professionally inspected and serviced.
“In air systems, vacuum duct openings and change the air filters.
“Remember Spokane’s last Ice Storm? Make sure you have fuel supply, plus some extra for emergencies.
“Have your chimney swept (if you have a furnace, you have a chimney) and make necessary repairs. You can find a chimney sweeper in the classified pages or through a heating company.
“On older windows repair deteriorated glazing and caulk the big spaces around the frames.
“Check rain gutters periodically to make sure they are functioning properly.
“Trim tree branches that could damage the house in a wind storm.
“Shut off outdoor water supplies and drain pipes and cover them from freezing.
“Take time to carefully plan next year’s garden. Place plant orders early.
“Examine snow-removal equipment to make sure it’s ready to serve you.
And, once you get all that accomplished, lean back, enjoy a warm fire, a cup of hot cocoa and dream of spring in the Inland Northwest.