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Fall and winter prep: Preparing your home for seasonal changes, Part 1

By following some basic maintenance procedures every autumn, your home will last longer, provide better insulation in winter, and provide for low-maintenance solutions later on.

1. Annual check up for forced-air or water heating sytem. For electrical heat, vacuum the baseboard units and check thermostats. For forced air, replace filters and vacuum registers and intake grills.

2. Clean gutters after most of the leaves have fallen. Also, check the wood behind the gutters to see if it is in need of repairs. If you have a lot of leaves, you might consider installing some type of gutter guard.



3. Check for caulk anywhere masonry meets siding, where pipes or wires enter the house, and around window and door frames and at the corner joints formed by siding. Redo the caulk if necessary. Caulking is good for weather proofing, and also keeps out moisture and dirt.

4. Check for proper insulation and add to it if necessary. Your attic floor is one of the most important spots, since the heat from your home will rise and be lost. Seal any air leaks in your home, especially around windows and doors.

5. Protect your plumbing, even if your pipes have never frozen in the past. Check the lines that run through the exterior walls. Wrap with pipe jackets, fiberglass insulation or electric heating tape.

6. Inspect your roof for missing, loose or damaged shingles. Check and recaulk if necessary around plumbing stacks, cable brackets, antennae, etc. Check and replace your chimney flashing if necessary.

7. Have your chimney inspected every year, and cleaned if necessary.

8. Check for loose or peeling paint on the exterior of your house. This is the time to paint your house if necessary, or just touch it up in the problem areas. Follow the manufacturer's advice for weather conditions and wall preparation.

Click here for more home prep tips for fall and winter, part 2.

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