Winter is coming - Are You Prepared?

 

Winter is coming

Are you prepared?

 

Now that we’ve turned back the clocks, it’s time to make sure your home is ready for winter.  There are a few important things to do now to keep your home toasty during cold weather:

HVAC – Have it professionally inspected and change the filter.   And Reverse your ceiling fans too – this will create an updraft to push the warm air back down to keep comfortable without raising the thermostat!

Inspect windows & doors for leaks – use weather stripping or caulk to seal any gaps – Important way to lower your energy bills.  And check your insulation – it’s like a blanket for your home.  And avoiding heat loss can help prevent Ice dams which can damage your home.

Have your chimney professionally inspected & cleaned.  Creosote buildup is a fire hazard + a clean chimney ensures proper ventilation.

And clean your gutters and trim trees that overhang your home – or hire someone if you can’t (this can be dangerous if your roof & gutters are very high – don’t injure yourself!

Prepare for Emergencies:

Power outages – Flashlights with extra batteries or hand crank flashlights.  And nonperishable food & manual can opener & matches to light gas stove.  And if you don’t open the Refrigerator or freezer, food will be fine for several hours.  And “juice box” battery backup for your cell phone

Safety First – make sure to test you smoke detectors and have a working carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home & keep a fire extinguisher handy & review the instructions!