Last time we talked about preparing your home heating system,  air conditioning and roof for the colder winter months to come. Here are some more easy steps to follow to ensure the ice, snow and temperature drop won’t take you or home by surprise!

 

Plumbing

Damage to plumbing and your home during the winter months can be a costly nightmare when freezing temperatures cause pipes to burst. Investing some time and a little bit of money will be well-worth it!

• Insulate exposed piping- Any exposed water or drain piping in un-insulated spaces (this includes crawl spaces, attics, outside walls, etc. ), need to be insulated. This can be done by wrapping the pipes with electrical heating tape and then with foam insulation.
• Exterior faucets- Called hose bibbs or sill cocks, these outdoor faucets need all water supply turned off from inside the house. Drain all of
  the water and disconnect any garden hoses which should also be drained as well.  Insulated covers can be purchased to cover the hose bibbs.
• Seasonal shutdown- If you are shutting down a summer property for the winter be sure to shut of the water supply and drain the plumbing system.

Chimney (and Fireplace) Checklist

• Check if the chimney is clear of nests from birds, squirrels and other small critters.
• Check the floe damper operation, that it opens and closes properly and that it can lock in both positions.
• Check the chimney draft by lighting some rolled up newspaper; the smoke should rise up the chimney. If it doesn’t a professional needs to be called to clean the chimney of creosote ash and possible debris.
• If it has been several years since the chimney has been cleaned then a professional should be hired to do so.
• Inspect the fire brick in the fireplace and any open mortar joints MUST be repaired! A fire can spread into the stud wall behind the masonry firebrick through open mortar joints.

   Insulation

Here are some extra tips for the cold months to come beyond the basics of insulating your home.

• Insulate your hot water tank with an insulating blanket (you can purchase at a hardware store).
• Insulate exterior outlets and switch plates with inexpensive foam sealing gasket.
• If your fireplace leaks air you can cut a piece of fibreglass insulation and fit it into the fireplace to block cold air from coming into your home. Just don’t forget to remove it when you want to start a fire!

I hope you are well on your way to winterizing your home, because the snow and ice is just around the corner! If you start taking these simple steps to prepare your property for the cold then you can relax when the temperature starts to drop.  Stay tuned and next you can learn about winterizing doors and windows in your home, sprinkler systems and your landscape and amenities!

Remember your home is your castle and investing some extra time and engery in it, you know you have the pick of the crop.

www.liveinstalbert.com

Anna Bayne
Associate | REALTOR®
Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

KENNEDY Real Estate
Your Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager
Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!