Winter season means freezing temperatures which can create a hazardous condition for your home. Here are six tips to help your home survive the cold...
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1. Get The Furnace Ready: |
- Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.
- If your home is heated by a hot water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.
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2. Get the Fireplace Ready: |
- Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds.
- If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.
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3. Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows: |
- Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
- Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.
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4. Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts: |
- Adding extra insulation to the attic will prevent warm air from creeping to your roof, causing ice dams.
- Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.
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5. Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: |
- Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and/or water heater.
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6. Prevent Plumbing Freezes: |
- Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
- Drain all garden hoses.
- Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
- Drain air conditioner pipes and if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.
- If you go on vacation, leave the heat set to at least 55 degrees.
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