November 26, 2011

Autumn Usually Means It Is Time For Your Home To Be Winterized

By Joel Thieran


Once you learn what spring cleaning means, it is likely you have some notion what it means to winterize your home. When autumn arrives you need to inspect your home's readiness for the upcoming winter. Fall, 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. Clinging vines and the roots of plants harm siding and even bricks, so it is good to keep them cleaned off.

If you have completed your last watering, drain, roll up and store all the hose. The exterior faucets need to have the water turned off, and then helped to drain dry. After you believe you won't use the garden furniture again that year, get it cleaned and stored in a dry place. In case you have any trees which are still developing, and especially those that have not endured a winter, shield them by placing mulch around the base of their stems. All drainage ditches should be cleared to enable them to cope with any heavy rains.

As soon as the weather starts to get colder, it is time to start thinking of fireplaces. Masonry sweeps usually are in high demand wih the initial cold spell, so avoid the queue and get in early. If you are most likely to need firewood, find a source and put in a good stock early. Try rural areas when it's convenient, where local people may sell firewood without the cost of advertising. Check out and verify that all the smoke alarm systems are working, irrespective of whether you light fires in winter or not. The cords to the Christmas lights can get brittle and break if you don't ever take them down, so check them for sufficient flexibility. When you use storm windows, they should be installed. Warm weather dries out weather-stripping, therefore check if they need updating.

Verify the good working order of the range hood filters, since during winter the windows are mostly closed. Perform a examination of the ground-slope all around the house, ensuring that it falls away from the walls. Water emptying into the basement and the footing can cause serious problems. The first deterioration is wet rot, which sooner or later leads to dry rot, and this is definitely something to be prevented anywhere in your home. Frequently inspect your home for indications of seepage.

It appears to be unavoidable that leakages come, and the most likely places are the roof, the gutter and down-spouts, and the inside plumbing. Set a priority to get any leaks you see fixed. You should cover up the air-conditioning machines to prevent drafts, while, particularly with older homes, it is worth cladding the exterior pipes. It's really a wise decision to shampoo the carpets and rugs, since dust is more noticeable in the winter. You might as well use the opportunity to clean the windows.




About the Author:

Joel Thieran happens to be marketing through articles for quite a while now. He's written articles on various topics such as healthy eating plan and samsung american fridge freezer. You can find out more about these articles at his site.


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