HOME OWNER’S
10 COMMANDMENTS FOR AUTUMN
(Maintenance
tips for saving money)
EXTERIOR
1. Remove
hoses and winterize hose bib
Turn off water at interior shut
off valve and drain pipe (if applicable).
Cover hose bib with Styrofoam cover or other insulating material. This will keep water in the supply pipe from
freezing and splitting the pipe.
2. Winterize
sprinkler systems (if applicable)
Water must be removed from sprinkler
system to prevent freezing water from shattering pipes and sprinkler heads. Compressed air is used to blow water out.
This is best done by a professional sprinkler system contractor. The back flow
preventer valve (valve keeps pollutants from contaminating the drinking water)
must be certified once a year. This can
be done at the same time system is winterized.
3. Clean leaves
and debris out of gutters
After the leaves have fallen,
clean your gutters. Clogged gutters can cause damage to your house. Water and
snow become trapped at the roof line, are forced under the shingles causing
damage to the wood decking. In extreme cases, water leaks through the attic and
into ceiling and walls below. Installing
gutter screens or ‘helmets’ can eliminate this annual ritual.
4. Winterize
air conditioner unit
Covering the exterior compressor
unit will keep leaves, debris, snow and ice from damaging the air conditioner
during the colder months. A sturdy plastic trash bag will work. Do not cover
the bottom six to eight inches of the air conditioner. Leave this space open so that moisture
condensation inside air conditioner will drain and evaporate.
5. Ice melt
An alternative to shoveling snow
off sidewalks and driveways is to use an ice melting material. Don’t use table
salt (sodium chloride). Rock salt will
damage the surface of concrete (spauling and pitting) and will kill grass and
shrubs. Calcium Chloride based melts are
available at grocery & hardware stores and are safe for concrete and yards.
INTERIOR
6. Close storm windows & lock primary windows
Close all storm windows completely. Closing the storm window traps an insulating
barrier of air between two panes of glass lowering heat loss through your
windows. Make sure all primary windows
are closed and locked. Leaving a 2 foot
wide window open ¼ of an inch is the equivalent of having a 3 by 2 inch hole
through your wall (about the size of a standard business card).
7. Reverse ceiling fans
Lower heating bills by reversing
ceiling fans. In summer a ceiling fan blowing down at a fast speed creates a
cooling breeze. In winter reverse the
direction of the fan (so that it blows up) and change speed to lowest level.
The fan will now pull the cold air from the floor to the ceiling forcing the
hot air at the ceiling (hot air rises) down the walls to the floor without
creating a breeze. The room will feel warmer without raising the temperature at
the thermostat.
8. Winterize attic fan (if applicable)
An attic fan is basically a hole
in your ceiling covered by a louvered metal plate. If the louvers get bent or
don’t shut tightly, then heavy cold air flows into the house and warm air
escapes through the attic. Taping a thick sheet of Styrofoam (cut to the size
of the opening) across the ceiling side of the attic fan prevents the loss of
heat.
9. Change the air filter
Air filters should be changed at
least four times a year. A dirty clogged air filter blocks the flow of air
through the furnace. Your furnace runs
longer and harder costing you money.
10. Service the
Furnace
All mechanical systems require
periodic maintenance and your furnace is no exception. Your furnace should be
checked annually by a reputable heating contractor. A service contract with a heating contractor
is a less expensive way to keep furnace (and air conditioner) at the peek of
performance.
Rick Ruttle, President
HOMESTEAD INSPECTION INC. 636-677-5868
