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Saturday, October 29, 2011

Winterize Your Home This Coming Autumn Topic 8621.70

By Efren Beal


If you know what spring cleaning implies, it is likely you have some notion what it means to winterize your home. Did you ever consider or think you would find as much information on scuba diving gear as you have? We have crammed a lot into a little bit of space, but the good news is there is more waiting for you. As you go through this, some things will standout more than others, but do not throw the baby out with the bathwater, either. That can sometimes be a mistake because on closer observation you will often change your mind. We make a suggestion here and there, and what we are trying to do is spark your own creative thinking. So just keep going forward with the second part, and there will be more solid information that you can do some good things with. That is never a bad thing even though it can seem like a lot to take in. Autumn means winter season is around the corner, and you should use the chance to make sure that your house is ready for it. Fall season, with the attendant dying out of leafy growth, is a good time to examine your house's walls, since it will be easier to spot any shrubs that are becoming invasive. Siding is very easily damaged by roots and vines that cling to the surface area - even bricks aren't immune - and they should be cleaned off.

Once you're done watering for the year, you must drain all of the hose, and roll them up to be stored away. The water to any outside faucets should be turned off, so that they can drain and get dry. If you are finished with your backyard furniture for the year, clean it up and afterwards store it in a dry spot. For those who have any trees that happen to be still developing, and especially those that have not endured a winter, shield them by placing mulch around the base of their stems. To help prevent your yard from getting sodden if significant rains occur, make sure that any drainage ditches are clear.

Cold temperature normally directs one's thoughts to fireplaces. Get your chimney swept soon enough, before the first cold spell, because that's usually when everyone wakes up and wants it done. If you are most likely to need firewood, search for a source and put in a good stock early. When you find yourself in a rural area, check for local residents selling firewood without advertising. Check out and confirm that all the smoke sensors are working, irrespective of whether you light fires in winter or not. Many people leave holiday lights up all year, and the wires should be checked for flexibility. When you use storm windows, they should be fitted. You need to check if some of the weather-stripping has become dried out from the summer's heat and should be replaced.

Over the winter season, the windows are still closed most of the time, so make sure that the filtering system in your range hood are in good working order. Confirm that the pitch of the soil around your house will still allow water to flow away. You wouldn't want the problems associated with water getting into the basement or the foundation. First and foremost it leads to wet rot, which could change to dry rot after some time, which you sincerely want to do without. Make a point of checking, at regular time periods, that water is not seeping into your home.

You must look for leaks, the most at risk places being the roof, gutters, down-pipes and inside plumbing. It's a given, but all the leaks must be repaired. Cover any outside pipes, certainly so if your house is older, and reduce drafts by placing a cover over air-conditioning units. Your carpets may need to be shampooed to clear out dust which in winter is readily noticed. You might as well use the opportunity to clean the windows.




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