It’s midwinter house checkup time

Midwinter is a good time to do a house checkup — especially this winter, when many parts of the country are experiencing surprisingly cold weather and high fuel bills. Here are some things to look for:

•Check gutters and downspouts to make sure water isn’t being diverted toward the foundation.

•Check the attic with a flashlight for wet spots on rafters and roofing plywood. On the outside of the house, use binoculars to check from a distance for any missing shingles, especially around chimneys and vents.

•Consider putting down extra insulation in the attic. Check for drafts around the attic access hatch.

•Check for air leakage around windows. If you feel a cold draft, there’s still enough winter left to make it cost effective to hang insulated drapes or put up the clear plastic you shrink with a hairdryer.

• Walk around the house barefoot and check for cold drafts at floor level. Exterior doors, under windows and wall plugs, and in front of fireplaces are common places for air leaks.

•If your laundry-room floor is cold, chances are the exterior flap on the dryer vent is to blame. Depending on the type, sometimes the spring breaks or sticks and the flap doesn’t close, letting cold air come into the house through the dryer.

•Check the interior perimeter of the basement for water leaks. Look for white residue on a concrete floor as a sign of a previous leak. If the basement is damp, invest in a dehumidifier.

•If you have an unheated basement and have been lucky not to have frozen pipes, consider whether it’s worthwhile to insulate the pipes now or to install heat tape.

•Drain and insulate outside faucets if you haven’t done it yet.

•Change the furnace filter, if you haven’t done it yet this winter.

•Check the flooring at the front and back door. If you live in a snow area, look for salt and sand residue that can destroy the surface, especially of wood.

•Buy an inexpensive hygrometer and check the humidity levels inside the house. Too low, and your wood furniture and flooring can suffer. Too high, and mold could develop.

By making a few fixes now, not only will you be warmer for the rest of the winter, but you’ll save on your heating bills.