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Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Fall Season Signifies It Is Time For Your House To Be Winterized

By Ryan C. Shaw

Spring cleaning happens to be something most people do, but probably only a few people understand what it is to winterize your house. Autumn means winter is around the corner, and you should use the occasion to make sure that your house is ready for it. During fall it really is easier to examine the outside of the home, since the foliage is dying away and you can more easily see if shrubs are attached to the house. Siding is quickly damaged by roots and vines that cling to the surface - even bricks aren't immune - and they should be cleaned off.

Once you're finished watering for the year, you should drain all of the hose, and roll them up to be stored away. The water to any outside faucets should be turned off, so that they can drain and get dry. When you believe that you won't make use of the garden furniture again that year, get it cleaned and stored in a dry place.

Winter normally directs one's thoughts to fireplaces. Masonry sweeps tend to be in high demand wih the first cold spell, so avoid the queue and get in early. Who knows how the supply of firewood will be, so if you are going to need some, make an effort to locate some in plenty of time. If you find yourself in a rural area, watch out for local residents selling firewood without advertising.

If you leave your Christmas lights set up for the whole year, check that the cords remain flexible. If you usually install storm windows, the time has come to do it. Warm weather dries out weather-stripping, and so check if they need changing.

During the winter months, the windows are still closed most of the time, so make sure that the filters in your range hood are in good working order. Check the land surface around the house to make sure that it still slopes away. When water appears to drain into the downstairs room, or the foundation, that can be bad news for your house. To begin with it can cause wet rot, which in turn could cause dry rot, which isn't something you want in your home anywhere. You ought to look for seepage on a regular basis.

It seems to be unavoidable that leakages come, and the most likely places are the roof, the gutter and down-spouts, and the inside plumbing. If you discover any leaks, you should obviously get them repaired. Encapsulate any external pipes, certainly so if your house is older, and cut down drafts by placing a cover over air-conditioning units. Your floor coverings ought to be shampooed to clear out dust which in winter is readily noticed. While you are at it, you might as well clean the windows.

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