Ask the Inspector IX - Picket Fence Preview Real Estate
Dear Hans,
In one of last year's articles you wrote about getting your home ready for winter. Could you please post that again? Thanks Gayl (Arlington)
Water
€ Disconnect any garden hoses.
€ If the exterior faucets are not frost free, drain the water out.
€ Remove any pond pumps and store the pump in your basement in a 5-gallon bucket filled with water. This will help to prevent the seals from drying out.
€ If you have a utility sink in your garage, drain the water out of the pipes and dump some RV anti-freeze into the drain.
€ If you have a lawn sprinkler system (aka ³irrigation system²) it needs to be drained and blown out with compressed air. Hire a pro to do this.
Air
€ Clean the combustion air or makeup air intake vents.
€ If an air exchange system is present, such as a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) or energy recovery ventilator (ERV), clean it. Regular maintenance items for an HRV include cleaning the exterior intake, the filters, and the core.
€ Clean the clothes dryer duct. The damper at the exterior should move freely and close properly.
€ Check the bathroom and kitchen exhaust dampers for wasp nests. Nests in these terminals will prevent the dampers from openings.
Roof
€ Clean the soffit vents. These can get clogged up with lint, dust, insulation, and paint. They¹re located under the roof overhangs.
€ Check the roof vents for bird nests. They can typically be seen from the ground.
€ Clean the gutters after all the leaves have fallen.
€ If the downspouts or sump pumps drain into an underground system, re-direct them to drain to the ground surface when feasible.
Air Conditioner
€ Outdoor covers are NOT necessary. If a cover is used, it should be the type that only covers the top, not a full enclosure.
General Exterior
€ Seal any gaps around the home 'envelope'; check for loose or dried out caulking around pipes, ducts, faucets, air conditioner refrigerant lines, etc. While this is the most generic piece of fall maintenance advice, it¹s still smart to do this before winter.
€ Replace any damaged or worn weatherstripping around windows and doors.
Smoke / CO Alarms
€ Smoke alarms should be located inside every bedroom, and one in a common area on every level including the basement.
€ If you don¹t have photoelectric smoke alarms in your home, add them. This is a big deal. If you don't know what type you have, you probably don't have photoelectric.
€ CO alarms should be located within ten feet of every sleeping room, but not in furnace rooms, kitchens, or garages.
€ Replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms and test them using the built-in test buttons.
€ Check the age of your smoke and CO alarms; smoke alarms are good for up to ten years, CO alarms are good for between five and ten years. If they¹re any older, replace them.
Furnace / Boiler
€ Have a professional furnace or boiler tune-up performed annually.
€ Replace the batteries in your thermostat. If your thermostat fails while you're on vacation, you might come home to a winter wonderland.
€ Clean or replace the furnace filter this should usually be done every one to three months, depending on the type of filter. The arrow on the filter should point toward the furnace.
Fireplaces
€ Have the flues professionally cleaned on any wood burning fireplaces if they get used regularly; every 30 50 fires is a good rule of thumb.
€ Avoid burning any woods that are not hard and dry.
€ Clean the dust out of the bottoms of any gas fireplace inserts.
€ If you have a gas log installed in a wood burning fireplace with an adjustable damper, make sure there is a damper stop installed to prevent the damper from getting closed all the way.
