Hi,
I hope you and your family had a wonderful summer and are enjoying these beautiful fall days.
With winter just around the corner here is my annual Fall/Winter blog post with some helpful reminders for getting your home winter ready:
- Change your smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries. And if your home doesn’t have them please consider purchasing them for your safety.
- When disposing of batteries make sure that each battery is wrapped in tape or plastic to prevent them from coming in contact with each other and starting a fire.
- Change your heating and A/C system (HVAC) filters to ensure the highest efficiency of your HVAC system (this should be done monthly or quarterly depending on the type of filters installed).
- Have your furnace serviced by a licensed HVAC company. Gas furnaces produce carbon monoxide which can be deadly if a furnace doesn’t function properly. The same with a gas water heater.
- Have your fireplace checked by a reputable chimney sweep or company before starting your 1st fire. If your fireplace has a gas starter or gas logs make sure the damper is functioning properly to prevent carbon monoxide build up just like your furnace.
- Clean out gutters. Properly draining gutters help prevent water damage to your home.
- Check weatherstripping at doors and windows for damage. Make repairs to any damaged or missing weatherstripping to help lower your heating costs.
- Winterize your outside faucets to prevent damage from freezing. Cover and protect any other exposed plumbing.
- Clean windows inside and out. By removing dirt and grime build up the glass will remain clear for years to come.
- Check windows for damaged or missing weatherstripping, glazing and glass. If a window appears foggy or there is moisture present between the glass contact a window repair company.
- Locate your water valves and shut-offs in case you need to access them quickly should a pipe freeze or burst.
I hope you find this newsletter helpful. Many of these items can be googled for additional info and instructions for those who like DIY projects. If you need any vendor recommendations, please let me know.
Sincerely,
P.S. The current 2022 market shift will continue as interest rates are expected to rise through mid 2023. So if you or someone you know is thinking about selling now or in the near future call me to assist. See my short video on Understanding The 4 Key Elements To A Proper Home Evaluation.
P.P.S. If you know someone who can benefit from this information please share it.