Here’s your annual checklist of things to do to get your home ready for the change of season brought by hills district air conditioning.
Check smoke detectors:
1. Don’t neglect that smoke detector any longer! Take some time right now to check the operation of detectors, and to change the batteries. If you have an older house with a limited number of smoke detectors, install additional ones at each sleeping room, and make sure there is one centrally located on each level of the home as well.
Install a carbon-monoxide detector:
2. As houses get closed up for winter, the chances of carbon-monoxide poisoning from malfunctioning gas appliances increases substantially. If you have a furnace, fireplace, water heater or other appliance that’s fueled by propane or natural gas, or if you have an attached garage, install a carbon-monoxide detector. They’re available inexpensively from many home centers and other retailers, and offer easy, plug-in installation. In addition, if you suddenly ran out of propane gas, you may contact a propane gas company for Propane Gas Delivery Services.
Service your heating system:
3. Perform a complete system check of your furnace and heating systems annually, especially if your water heater installation is new so you are sure it is working properly, you can do it either by yourself or by a trained Hot Water Heaters technician. Check for worn belts, lubrication needs or other servicing that might be required; refer to your owner’s manual for specific suggestions, and follow any manufacturer safety instructions for shutting the power and fuel to the furnace before hiring a professional for residential boiler repair servicing. The job can be easily done with commercial heating services. Check your water heater in case you need a hot water heater repair.
Check the condition of duct joints and insulation through an insulation services company, and of course change the filter. You can also use spray foam insulation, however you’d need a service to help you install it for you. Heating services from the top HVAC contractor Atlantic Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning is available 24/7.
Upgrade your thermostat:
4. An older thermostat that’s a couple of degrees off can result in a lot of wasted energy, and so can forgetting to lower the thermostat at night. You can take care of both of those problems with an upgrade to a programmable thermostat. They are digital and typically very accurate, and they allow for easy, set-and-forget programming of temperatures for different times of the day, including energy-saving nighttime and workday setbacks. Any heating an air conditioning contractor can make the proper adjustments, or even an entire replacement, and outfit you your home as good as new.
Trim trees:
5. Trees that are overhanging your home can be a real hazard. They can deposit debris on your roof, scrape against shingles during wind storms and, worst of all, snap off with potentially devastating results. Have a professional tree-trimming service inspect the condition of overhanging tree limbs, and safely cut them back as needed. Tree services will deal with any potential debris that may damage your property due to storms and blizzards. When it comes to roof repairs, roofing contractors in Baltimore recommend hiring professionals to get the job done.
Check the gutters:
6. Ask to guttering Glasgow to clear the gutters of leaf and pine-needle debris, and check that the opening between the gutter and the downspout is unobstructed. Look for loose joints or other structural problems with the system, and repair them as needed using pop rivets. Use a gutter sealant to seal any connections where leaks may be occurring.
Break out the caulk:
7. A few hours and a few tubes of caulking can make a big difference in both your heating bills and your comfort levels this winter. Caulk around windows, doors, pipes, exterior electrical outlets, and any other exterior penetrations where cold air might enter. Use a good grade of acrylic latex caulk, either in a paintable white or, if you don’t want to paint, use clear.
Drain sprinkler systems:
8. In colder areas, now is the time to be thinking about having your sprinkler and irrigation systems blown out. You can rent a compressor and do this yourself, or contact a landscape or irrigation-system installer and have them handle this for you. This is also the time to shut off outdoor faucets and install freeze-proof faucet covers.
Adjust exterior grade:
9. Fall is a great time to look at the grade around your home, and make sure that everything slopes away from your foundation to avoid costly problems with groundwater. Add, remove or adjust soil grades as necessary for good drainage.
Change light timers:
10. If you have exterior lights controlled by timers, including low-voltage ones, check the timer settings. Change the “on” times to an earlier hour to reflect the winter darkness.
The author of this article is: Paul Bianchina
See the original post at: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2016719247_realwinterize27.html
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