10 Home Maintenance Tips before Winter.

10 Home Maintenance Tips before Winter.

 Here are some home maintenance tips that will keep your home in great shape this winter.

 Gutter Cleaning 

Cleaning the gutters on any home will help to prevent water damage. The buildup of leaves, branches, shingles and other debris can cause ice damns during the winter months and block water flow during the summer months. Both can result in possible water damage. Clearing your gutters will help prevent future water damage to your home and also give you a chance to inspect areas of your roof that may need to be repaired.

Replace Furnace Filters 

Replace your furnace filter before winter. A new filter will help with the flow of air and your furnace will run more efficiently. Don’t let the filter in your home look like this one:

Furnace Tune up 

Have your furnace tuned up by a professional each year.  Proper maintenance of your furnace will allow you to avoid costly repairs down the road.

Let your Furnace Breathe

Clear any debris, flammable material, and all other items away from the furnace, to prevent fires. This will also allow air to flow freely in and out of your furnace. Sometimes space is an issue, but it is important to let your furnace breathe.

Turn off Faucet's  

Turn off outside faucets to avoid frozen and/or broken pipes later in the winter.

Remove Hoses 

Remove hoses from faucets and store them for winter. This will avoid frozen or broken faucets later in the winter. 

Change Batteries 

Change the batteries in your fire alarms and CO detectors. It is recommended to change the batteries every six months.

Check Downspouts 

Make sure that your downspouts are connected to your gutters. Also, add extensions to downspouts so that they lead water four to five feet away from the foundation.

Hire a Chimney Sweep 

If you use a fireplace, make sure to have the chimney inspected and cleaned by a trained chimney sweep. This will help to prevent carbon monoxide from getting into your home. It will also help you avoid chimney fires.

Prepare snow removal equipment 

Last but not least, make sure that all necessary snow-removal tools are ready to be used. Fire up the snow blower to make sure it is running. The last thing you need is to have a broken snow blower when a big storm hits! Make sure you have enough snow shovels, deicers, and any other tools needed to combat winter weather.