Since Fall is near ....or already here, I am passing along some safety and maintenance tips that you might find helpful as you say goodbye to the warm days of Summer and prepare for the cold Winter months. The crisp, cool weather make autumn the perfect time to work on these winterizing chores. Time spent now will lessen the time it could take to fix problems later.
1. Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel tank is empty.
By doing this, you are removing flammable liquid storage from your garage. At the same time, make sure you aren't storing dirty, oily rags in a pile. They can ignite spontaneously.
2.
Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your fireplace damper.
Soot and creosote, which build up inside the chimney, can ignite when a fire is lit in the fireplace.
3.
Make sure the caulking or weather stripping around doors and windows is adequate to reduce heat/cooling loss.
Check glazing for loose or missing putty or glazing compound. Make sure weather stripping is not brittle and breaking. This will reduce heating costs as well as help reduce water damage to the windows and door frames.
4.
Remove bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor electrical fixtures.
Bird nests on top of light fixtures are a fire hazard. Bird nests in chimney flues can prevent a proper venting of combustion gases and can catch fire from sparks.
5. Clean out gutters and downspouts.
Cleaning debris and fallen leaves reduces the chances of an ice dam forming. One good step is to spray water down the downspouts to wash away leaves and other debris. A good tip is to place gutter screens over gutters.
6. Roof: If you have a sloped roof, look for shingles that are cracked, curled, loose, damaged, or missing and repair or replace them. If you have a flat roof, clean off leaves and branches, and cut back overhanging tree limbs.
7. Grading: Any and all surfaces next to the exterior walls should be sloped to shed water away from the house. This is most important on warm winter days, as melting snow runs quickly across the surface of frozen ground. If the grading is incorrect, water will potentially flow into the house, causing basement leakage. Now is the time to use a shovel to re-slope the grass, or call a paving contractor to correct a negatively sloped walkway or driveway.
8. Turn Off Outside Taps: Unless they are frost-proof, drain and turn off taps and external pipes to prevent bursting due to freezing. Drain garden hoses and store inside to prevent from getting brittle from freezing temperatures.
9. Lawn Care: Tender plants need protection from the cold, foundation plantings need approximately four inches of mulch. Be sure to change wood mulch often and/or treat it with insect repellant ....you dont want a termite problem! You could use rubber mulch instead, it may be more expensive but it lasts longer. Rake leaves from yard and prune shrubs and trees, making sure limbs do not touch your home.
10. Misc: Start to put away tools and equipment left outdoors during the summer such as play equipment, lawn mowers, barbecues, patio furniture, flower bed ornaments, and gardening tools. It may be time to winterize your pool and outdoor hot tub, too.
If you're thinking of selling or buying in the Jefferson City Missouri Area, contact Hank Vogt direct at (573)761-3485 or online at www.hankshouses.com . “I want to be your Jefferson City Real Estate Resource ~ I am at your service!”
.JPG)
Posts
