Two important areas for winterizing our homes:
Plumbing and Chimney/Fireplaces
As temperatures drop, we sometimes forget that simple things can make a HUGE difference in resulting costs and damage. One simple thing that needs attention is Frozen pipes. While one day or night of freezing temperatures shouldn’t make a difference, prolonged freezing temperatures can have a drastic effect on your exposed plumbing. By now, for those of us living in Kansas, we’ve had several hard freezes…so doncha think it’s time you went around and checked your faucets?! Remove any hoses you have attached to your outdoor faucets, and then go in the house and TURN OFF the water to the outside faucets.
By doing these two simple tasks, you have already averted the major risk to water damage in your walls and home by a frozen burst pipe.
Frozen water exerts thousands of pounds of pressure per square inch on a pipe and can burst it, causing flooding and major damage to your home. A couple of other things you may want to check are noted below:
- Check around the home for other areas where water supply lines are located in unheated areas.
- Look in the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
- Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be insulated.
- Consider installing specific products made to insulate water pipes like a “pipe sleeve” or installing UL-listed “heat tape,” “heat cable,” or similar materials on exposed water pipes.
- Newspaper can provide some degree of insulation and protection to exposed pipes – even ¼” of newspaper can provide significant protection in areas that usually do not have frequent or prolonged temperatures below freezing.
Fireplaces and Chimneys
If you’re like my family, we love to have a wood-burning fire going regularly. However, there are a few things to check BEFORE getting started on the burning season. Make sure the chimney is clear of any nests from birds, squirrels, or other animals. Check to be sure the flue opens and closes fully and can be locked either way. Check the draft. You want a chimney to draw up the fire and smoke properly. If after opening the flue and lighting several sheets of newspaper in the fireplace, watch the smoke. If it doesn’t rise, there’s an obstruction, and we need to call a professional to clean the chimney of creosote and possible debris.
Speaking of cleaning…this isn’t a fun DIY project. Have a professional come out and clean it for you. They have all the right tools and equipment to do it safely and quickly. Inspect the fire brick in the fireplace. If there are any open joints, have them REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY! A fire can spread to the stud wall behind, and you have a disaster on your hands. While the above tips in no way encompass all the things needing to be done to prepare your home for winter, it will give you a few things to consider while protecting your most expensive investment!
Most homeowners ignore their furnaces during the summer months, so today, we’re going to give you an easy checklist to look over for the heating season.
- Clean the burner: Use a wire brush to remove any corrosion and soot buildup on the around the burners. Shop Vac to remove the brushed-free materials. Inspect the burner and the surrounding housing for excessive corrosion or holes. If you see damage, contact a professional for repairs.
- Replace the filter(s): Forced air furnaces have a filter mounted at the blower to eliminate dust from the air that the furnace moves through the home.
- Vents: Clean the vent outlets around the house. Shop vac out any dust or debris from all the vents.
- Check the burner: The burner flame needs to be uniform and blue while the furnace runs. If, after cleaning, you see a yellow flame, it indicates improper combustion. Clean the burners more thoroughly and vac away any soot or debris. If the burner needs adjusting, consult a professional. This would involve tools that analyze the exhaust gasses to determine the level of combustion. Most of us don’t have that sort of thing lying about! This will ensure the safe and effective use of your system.
