Home Maintenance Checklist During Winter
When the weather starts to turn cold, it’s time to make sure your home is ready to withstand the changing seasons. Following a winter maintenance checklist is a great way to keep your home in good condition. Plus, you can perform many of these checklist items yourself and save on utility bills and future problems in the spring.
1. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
First, check and see if your ceiling fans have reverse switches. Turning the fan’s blades clockwise helps push hot air from the ceiling toward the bottom of the room. If you have rooms with high ceilings, this change can help you heat the bottom of your room without turning up your thermostat. In some cases, you can even turn your thermostat down by a degree or two to save money on your utility bills.
2. Test Your Sump Pump
When you get snow or freezing rain in the winter, it eventually melts and can seep into your basement. Making sure your sump pump works during the wet season will help you avoid any flood damage. Test your sump pump ahead of time by slowly pouring a few gallons of water into the pit and waiting for the sump pump to turn on.
3. Inspect Your Roof
Heavy snows can hurt your roof, especially when you’re missing shingles or dealing with roof decay. You can use binoculars to inspect your roof from below, looking for things such as buckled, cracked or missing shingles. You should replace any missing or damaged shingles immediately and call in an expert if you notice any roofing decay.
4. Safely Stow Your Mower
You won’t need to worry about trimming your grass during the winter. However, putting your mower away isn’t as simple as just keeping it in the garage. If your mower sits for months with gas in it, the tank can deteriorate and damage the mower’s internal parts. You can buy fuel stabilizer to prevent the gas from degrading, or you can run your mower dry before you stow it in the winter.
5. Clean Your Fireplace
Fireplaces are easy to maintain, and they often provide enough warmth to heat a room or even a whole house. Before it gets too cold, make sure you get your fireplace cleaned. Creosote, a flammable oil, can build up in your chimney’s interior and catch fire when you light your fireplace for the first time. Either clean it yourself or hire a chimney cleaner.
6. Check Your Heating System
One of the most important winter maintenance checklist items is to make sure your heating system works and doesn’t need replacing. Try turning your thermostat on and off, and listen for any strange noises. You can hire a heating professional to check your system and perform regular maintenance before the winter. Also, check your heating oil levels to make sure you aren’t running on empty before the cold weather even starts.
Marstellar Can Help Heat Your Central PA Home
Marstellar Oil and Concrete is a locally owned, independent business serving Harrisburg and beyond. We have low order minimums and offer fast delivery for any time you need heating oil in a pinch. Contact us today to learn more.
