Home Winterization Checklist
Winter is here! It’s time to tackle all of the little chores and updates to protect your home over the season and make it easier to welcome spring. Here’s a handy checklist to help you start:
- Reverse your ceiling fans to help circulate warm air away from the ceiling and down to the living spaces.
- Seal any drafts you find in your window frames, doorway weather stripping, trim, electrical outlets and recessed lighting.
- Check the batteries on your fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Clean and mend your gutters as needed.
- Drain your sprinkler system, insulate exterior pipes and disconnect garden hoses before the first hard freeze.
- Take down window screens and install storm windows or shutters.
- If you didn’t have it done in the spring, have your chimney cleaned before you start using your fireplace. Keep the damper closed to prevent heat loss while the fireplace isn’t in use.
- Check your insulation and add to it as needed.
- Have your air ducts cleaned and checked for leaks. Dirty ducts can affect your indoor air quality at a time when you’re getting less fresh air in your home anyway. Duct leaks waste energy and add to your heating bill.
- Schedule a furnace tune-up. An ARS® furnace tune-up includes cleaning the blower compartment, tightening wire connections, cleaning and adjusting the burners, cleaning or replacing the filter, and inspecting the heat exchanger, gas pressure and flame operation, and igniter or pilot light. This preventative maintenance may help you avoid furnace failure during the months when you’re most in need of heat.
- Have your water heater flushed and checked for leaks. Install a water heater blanket for added insulation against heat loss.
- In the basement, test your sump pump and look for signs of moisture. Consider purchasing a backup sump pump or battery backup.
Call ARS®/Rescue Rooter® today for help with any of your plumbing or HVAC to-dos! Call 1-800-277-9400
