Wednesday, October 27, 2010

12 Ways To Winterize Your Home

12. Prepare humidifiers: Winter is a dry time inside your home and many people chose to use a portable or central humidifier to put much-needed moisture back into the air. Now is the time to check your humidifier to make sure it's operating properly.

Friday, October 22, 2010

10 Home Maintenance Tips for Fall

1. Clear Out Fireplace
Clear away all ash and open the flue to let air move through the chimney. Every other year have a chimney sweep clean it out to reduce your risk of fire.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

10 Home Maintenance Tips for Fall

2. Clean Out Gutters
Run a hose through the gutters to make sure they are clear of debris and that they dump water far enough your home. With any snowfall, you'll want to make sure your gutters aren't holding more than they can handle.

Monday, October 18, 2010

10 Home Maintenance Tips for Fall

3. Check the Heating System
Hire a professional to check your heating system to ensure you have heat throughout the season. This includes cleaning the furnace, lubricating parts and changing the filter. If you have an older system, you can look into retrofitting your furnace to increase its efficiency and save money.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

10 Home Maintenance Tips for Fall

4. Put Away Lawn Furniture
By mid-October, you should have your lawn furniture stored in a dry place to avoid rusting or breaking due to heavy wind.

Monday, October 11, 2010

10 Home Maintenance Tips for Fall

5. Check Roof For Loose Shingles
The roof is your main protector from weather and if your shingles are not secure you could be dealing with a cold and wet home this winter. If there are any tree limbs extended over your roof, make sure to cut them back to prevent roof damage.

Friday, October 8, 2010

10 Home Maintenance Tips for Fall

6. Drain Out Water Spigots
Drain and shut off external taps to avoid bursting in the dead of winter.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

10 Home Maintenance Tips for Fall

7. Weatherstrip Windows
You can save up to 15% on energy costs by making sure your windows and doors are sealed from the outdoors. To test this, shut a door or window on a piece of paper. If you can pull it out without the paper tearing, you need sealing.

Monday, October 4, 2010

10 Home Maintenance Tips for Fall

8. Clean Out Garage
As you are putting away lawn furniture and gardening tools, take the time to clean out the garage to make room for a winter's worth of items you'll need to store (holiday presents, old furniture, cars, etc.)

Friday, October 1, 2010

10 Home Maintenance Tips for Fall

9. Repair Leaky Faucets
Make sure you check all of the faucets in your home before temperatures drop too low. The cost of repairing a leaky faucet is much less than fixing a broken or frozen pipe in the middle of winter.