With the leaves starting to change and 80-degree temperatures gone, it means only one thing in New England. And now you can now look for a multitude of pumpkin-spiced products are back at your supermarket! It’s also a key time to tackle important home maintenance projects to keep your home in top shape through the Winter. Therefore, the RIHI Team is providing the following checklist to get you started:
1. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors
Installed on your ceiling or in the basement somewhere it’s easy to forget that CO2 detectors keep you safe 24/7. Test each detector to ensure they are working and replace batteries where necessary. Most importantly, safety experts also recommend replacing any detectors that are more than ten years old.
2. Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans to make your home feel warmer.
By reversing the direction of your ceiling fans, the warm air will get pushed down to the living area. This simple task will help cut your heating costs this winter.
3. Check all windows and exterior doors for air leaks.
In the winter, another way to help keep those heating bills down in check is to keep that cold blustery air out of your home. There are some simple DIY solutions like weatherstripping, caulking around gaps, or other types of sealants. If your windows and doors have had a good long life, replacement might be the way to go, and you’ll want to call in a pro like RIHI.
4. Clean Your Chimney
Let’s face it, one of the best ways to deal with a New England Winter is with a toasty fire in the fireplace. Fall is a great time to get your fireplace inspected and cleaned to make sure it is clear of buildup and creosote. That is to say, this build up is made up of harmful tar and toxins resulting from burning wood.
5. Schedule A Furnace Tune-Up
As the saying goes “an ounce of prevention is never truer than with your furnace. In other words, don’t wait until that frigid December night for your furnace to shut down and leave you shivering. Therefore, you should start by vacuuming dust and debris from around the furnace and replacing the filter. Now if you hear some strange noises or there are strange odors coming from the furnace call and HVAC professional.
6. Clean Out Your Gutters
While you can still enjoy a nice sunny Fall Sunday grab a ladder, a bucket, and a pair of heavy-duty gloves. Take time before the Patriots game and clear out the leaves and twigs from your gutters. Taking this step now will allow rain and melting snow to drain properly and not find a way into your home.
7. Disconnect Your Empty Hoses
Lastly, disconnect your hose from the spigot, drain your hoses, roll them up, and store them away. The alternative is frozen water that expands and bursts the hose, and then you’re buying new hoses in the Spring.
