Boise in Autumn is a bright reminder that we live in an incredible place. The leaves are changing, the scorching summer days are a thing of the past, and football has begun! If you haven't already, now is the perfect time to prepare your home for the winter months ahead. Here's a list of 10 things you can do to get your home ‘winter ready’.
Trim tree branches
Check for any tree branches that are close to or touching the house.
Disconnect hoses
Remove all garden hoses and store inside until spring. It's recommended to cover all pipes and spigots.
Winterize the sprinkler system
Failure to properly drain your sprinklers can result in cracked and ruptured pipes and valves. To minimize risk, call a professional to blow out your system.
Replace your furnace filter
This should be done every three months at a minimum, to prolong the life of your equipment.
Clean the gutters
Not cleaning the gutters regularly can impact the fascia and roof as well as fail to direct any water away from the foundation. Remove all debris, flush them with water, check all downspouts, replace any old or damaged gutters.
Inspect your roof
Visually inspect the roof for any loose or missing shingles or rusty flashing. Check that all rubber vent stacks, usually called boots, are not cracked.
Check the condition of your exterior paint
Peeling paint can signal that the existing paint has started to fail and is no longer protecting your siding. Left untreated, this can significantly damage your siding leading to costly repairs.
Caulk the cracks
Seal any cracks between the trim, siding, and windows with caulking and check that your weatherstripping is still effective. This will not only seal out any moisture, but also any air leaks that will waste energy.
Check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms
Check for proper operation and full battery power. Get a can of smoke and verify your smoke detector goes off, or if you're like us and are kitchen challenged — simply cook dinner!
Reverse the ceiling fans
During colder months, the ceiling fan should be running clockwise at a low speed to redistribute the warmer air down the walls from the ceiling while drawing the cooler room air up toward the ceiling.
If you aren’t confident in doing any of the maintenance yourself, give us a call at (208) 327-2127 and we’ll be happy to give you some great recommendations for professional help.
Trim tree branches
Check for any tree branches that are close to or touching the house.
Disconnect hoses
Remove all garden hoses and store inside until spring. It's recommended to cover all pipes and spigots.
Winterize the sprinkler system
Failure to properly drain your sprinklers can result in cracked and ruptured pipes and valves. To minimize risk, call a professional to blow out your system.
Replace your furnace filter
This should be done every three months at a minimum, to prolong the life of your equipment.
Clean the gutters
Not cleaning the gutters regularly can impact the fascia and roof as well as fail to direct any water away from the foundation. Remove all debris, flush them with water, check all downspouts, replace any old or damaged gutters.
Inspect your roof
Visually inspect the roof for any loose or missing shingles or rusty flashing. Check that all rubber vent stacks, usually called boots, are not cracked.
Check the condition of your exterior paint
Peeling paint can signal that the existing paint has started to fail and is no longer protecting your siding. Left untreated, this can significantly damage your siding leading to costly repairs.
Caulk the cracks
Seal any cracks between the trim, siding, and windows with caulking and check that your weatherstripping is still effective. This will not only seal out any moisture, but also any air leaks that will waste energy.
Check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms
Check for proper operation and full battery power. Get a can of smoke and verify your smoke detector goes off, or if you're like us and are kitchen challenged — simply cook dinner!
Reverse the ceiling fans
During colder months, the ceiling fan should be running clockwise at a low speed to redistribute the warmer air down the walls from the ceiling while drawing the cooler room air up toward the ceiling.
If you aren’t confident in doing any of the maintenance yourself, give us a call at (208) 327-2127 and we’ll be happy to give you some great recommendations for professional help.
Affordable Updates & Easy Cosmetic Fixes — Lighting
