As the leaves change and temperatures drop, embrace the season by preparing your home! Take the time to address a few simple tasks that could lead to a more enjoyable and worry-free winter ahead. Follow these tips this fall to get started on your home maintenance!
1. Clean and check your chimney, fireplace and furnace ducts.
You will want to clean your chimney to reduce the buildup of creosote and risk of dangerous gasses like carbon dioxide from getting into your home, while also increasing air flow. Creosote can build up over time and easily catch on fire. Animals love to use your chimney as a home; however, birds and other wild animal nests can cause dangerous gases to build up and escape into your home. They can also cause your furnace to not function efficiently or at all. For your fireplace, never start a fire or wood burner without cleaning the chimney first. You may want to consider hiring a professional who has the tools and equipment readily available to clean your chimney for you. A chimney inspection by a reputable company is also highly recommended.
2. Clean your rain gutters and down spouts.
Clear away any sticks and flush leaves before the first freeze to avoid ice dams. Ice dams can cause significant damage to the ceiling, walls and contents of your home.
3. Reseal windows and doors.
Feel for drafts and apply caulk, sealant or a plastic barrier to keep your home warm and reduce energy costs. Consider having your windows and doors professionally resealed. You can also purchase window sealing kits that come with sheets of plastic and adhesive strips to secure the plastic to the window frame that will help insulate your home from drafts.
4. Inspect your trees.
Heavy snow, ice or high winds can cause weak branches to fall on your home. This would not only cause a significant amount of damage to your home, but the branches may come through the ceiling causing injury to those inside. Consider having a reputable company remove trees that are near your home if you are unable to do so yourself. Prune any branches that are hanging over your house to prevent them from falling on your home. If you do remove trees, please consider planting new trees in a safe place away from your home.
5. Schedule a home heating system maintenance visit.
Armstrong Comfort Solutions will test your system for efficiency, identify any problems and change out your furnace filter. Consider becoming a member of the Peace of Mind Club! As a Peace of Mind Club member you will receive scheduled maintenance visits by our trained HVAC technicians as well as priority scheduling of calls, discounts on repairs and more!