Friday 20 April 2012

Fall Signifies It Is Time For Your Home To Be Winterized

By Drew Simmons


Everybody has been aware of spring cleaning, but very few people know what it means to winterize your home. Fall season means winter season is around the corner, and you should use the chance to make sure that your house is ready for it. In the course of fall it really is easier to inspect the outside of the home, since the foliage is dying away and you can more easily see if shrubs are attached to the house. Clinging vines and roots affect siding as well as bricks, so it is good to keep them cleaned off.

If they are no longer needed to do any watering, the garden hose should all be emptied and rolled up to be set into storage for the winter. The water to the exterior faucets should be turned off, so that they can drain and get dry. Whenever you believe that you won't use the garden furniture again that year, get it cleaned and stored in a dry place. If you have any trees which are still developing, and especially those that have not endured a winter, shield them by placing mulch around the base of their stems. To accommodate excess rainfall, you should clean out any drainage ditches that you have.

Winter normally leads one's thoughts to fireplaces. Everyone needs a chimney sweep at the same time when a chilly spell shows up, so call early to beat the rush. In case you use firewood, do not delay in finding someone and getting a good supply built up. When traveling around countryside areas, you will discover local people who sell fire wood, without lots of advertising. Check and verify that all the smoke alarms are working, irrespective of whether you light fires in winter or not. If you leave your Christmas lights set up for the whole year, check that the cords remain flexible. And presently is the time to get the storm windows installed. Warm weather dries out weather-stripping, therefore check if they need changing.

The windows are usually hardly ever opened in winter, so it will be necessary to check the condition of the filters in the range hood. Do a check of the ground-slope all around the home, ensuring that it falls away from the walls. You don't want the issues related to water getting into the basement or the foundation. To begin with it may cause wet rot, which in turn could cause dry rot, which is just not something you want in your home anywhere. Regularly inspect your home for warning signs of seepage.

Leaking can't be kept from happening forever, so check the places where leaks most commonly occur, these being the roofing, the guttering, the downpipes and the interior plumbing. Make it a priority to get any sort of leaks you find fixed. It is best to cover the air-conditioning machines to prevent drafts, while, particularly with older homes, it is worth cladding the exterior pipes. Dust is more effortlessly seen in the wintertime, so shampooing the carpets is recommended. As long as you're at it, you might as well clean the windows.




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