Get Ready for Winter!
Are You Winter Ready?
It’s that time of year again: you’re wondering where the summer went and you have a laundry list of maintenance items still to tackle! I find myself wandering around the house, seeing all the projects I wanted to complete this year and have yet to accomplish. There’s always next year, I guess. But until then… here’s a quick list of ways to help protect your home from those nasty winter storms that will be here before you know it. I’ve included links to products I personally use and recommend.
Schedule a service professional for seasonal furnace maintenance
Sometimes it’s just better to have a Pro around! The best advice I would give is listen and observe your HVAC system; if it seems to be acting differently, something might be wrong.Blow out sprinklers, cover your exterior sprinkler controls (also known as the pressure vacuum breaker assembly), and shut off outside water
Recommended Product: Pipe Insulation Cover.
It’s easy to find sprinkler blowout services this time of year, but you can do this yourself with a ten gallon or larger air compressor.Remove hoses from hose bibs and stash them away from the elements
Recommended Product: Faucet Cover
Under extreme temps or excessive snow these pipes can burst; however, you often won’t find the leak until springtime when you use your hose again. When spring does roll around, it’s best to check for any leaks.Cover your AC or evaporative cooler
Recommended Product: Air Conditioner Cover
Protecting these appliances will help in expanding the life of the unit. For an evaporative cooler, it will help to keep the cold air out.
Check for gaps around door thresholds and the weather stripping of windows and sliding glass doors
Product Example: Weather Stripping
Gaps will be found mainly in the doors and windows that are used the most. Weather stripping products vary depending on need, so you might need to ask for a little assistance when shopping in your local hardware store. I recommend taking pictures of the gap and the area you’re looking to fill.
Wishing you and yours beautiful fall colors and a very fun winter ahead!
Steve Redder, based in Fort Collins, CO has over 20 yrs. experience in construction, home maintenance, repairs, and remodeling.