November has officially arrived and although we're still enjoying moderate temps here in Hoover, AL, it's time to start thinking about winterizing the house. There's a lot to do outside, and face it, it's a lot less awful to do when it's 60 degrees out than procrastinating to a chilly day! Follow these simple ABC's and you'll be in good shape for our first cold snap.
Avoid wasting heated air! You’re paying for it, don’t let it
just disappear. Install, or inspect and replace weather stripping around doors
and windows. Caulk is another inexpensive option for filling gaps that let the
hot air escape and cold air in.
Bring pets indoors. If it’s too cold for you to be out, it’s
too cold for them.
Chimney inspections should be conducted annually by a
professional before your first fire of the season. If you have a fireplace that you don’t
use, look into a chimney balloon to stop drafts and pests coming in through the flue. While we’re on the subject of burning things,
enjoy your candles responsibly. Never leave them burning unattended or while
you’re sleeping!
Detectors, both Smoke and Carbon Monoxide, will only protect
you if they have fresh batteries. Replace the batteries now and again in the spring!
Empty outdoor water lines and protect with a cover. Locate
the water shut off valve for the outdoor spigot, and turn it off. Then go back
outside and open the spigot to drain any sitting water. Cover with a foam cover
that runs about $2 at home improvement stores.
Fans need to be reversed. While they keep you cool in the
summer, fans can also be valuable in the winter to force warm air back down off
the ceiling. Make sure they are turning clockwise.
Gutter cleaning time! They are probably full of leaves and now’s the time to clear debris and blockage. This also prevents
standing water from freezing in the gutter and causing both overflow and
pooling problems.
Are you getting ahead of the game this year? We'd love to hear about it here or on our Facebook page!
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