The Best Ways to Prepare Your Home for Winter
We maintain many of our clients’ homes year-round. Manhattan homes need a lot of attention, since so many things can go wrong in an older or landmark brownstone, condo or townhome. Winter is an especially tough time for homes.
Some issues are unique to the home. But there are many seasonal home maintenance tasks that can be done every year to keep your home in pristine condition and save you money in the long run. Fall is the perfect time to get your home ready for the harsh winter weather. Here’s our checklist of home care tips for winter:
Check the heating system
The worst time to find out that your heat isn’t working is when it’s freezing outside.
You can expect your heating system to last 12 to 15 years. Proper care of your system could extend its life beyond this time.
The fall is a great time to change your filters and vacuum air vents for hot air systems. Oil and gas heating systems should also be inspected at the beginning of the season for proper operation.
Clean the Gutters/Shut Down Outside Water Systems
In a few weeks, the leaves should be entirely off the trees, and potentially in your gutters. If the leaves are not removed, gutters might overflow plus you could get ice dams, which cause major damage. When gutters overflow, water runs down the side of your house which can lead to increased deterioration and potential penetration into your home.
Shut off and drain the outside water systems including outdoor kitchens and garden irrigation systems.
Test the Smoke and Carbon Dioxide Detectors
The beginning of the winter season is also a good time to test and change the batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. This is especially important during the winter since most house fires happen in the winter as we’re blasting the furnace and using the fireplace. Closed windows also increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Vacuum, Soak and Drain
It’s the little things that can sometimes cause the greatest damage. You use your refrigerator every day, but rarely do anything to keep it happily humming. We recommend that twice a year you vacuum the coils on the back or bottom of the fridge. This keeps the appliance running more efficiently, allowing the coils to release heat. You’re also shortening the life of the appliance and using more energy since your compressor must work harder than it’s designed to work.
Another part of your home you rarely give a second thought to are the faucet aerators. The aerator is a small screen at the end of your faucet that adds air to the water as it comes out and controls the stream. But over time, aerators trap dirt and debris. By cleaning the aerators regularly, you improve the water pressure. A simple way to clean them is to remove the aerator from the faucet and soak it in vinegar for five minutes. Then use an old toothbrush to scrub away any remaining debris.
You’ll also want to clean your dishwasher drain. Dishwashers do some heavy cleaning. Over time, soap scum, grease and food debris build up. This can reduce the efficiency of the dishwasher and provide a breeding ground for germs. Keep that vinegar handy. One of the easiest ways to clean your dishwasher is to do a cleaning with a cup of vinegar.
Insulate
Before the temperatures plunge, check the seals around your windows and doors. The U.S. Department of Energy says that by reducing drafts you can lower your annual energy costs by 20%. Your home care specialist will have several solutions, including spray foam insulation and caulking.
Here’s to a stress-free winter season for all you homeowners. We hope you get to spend more of this season enjoying a cozy home than caring for a cranky one.
All of these steps can be done by the homeowner, but we highly recommend hiring experts to better ensure the safety of your home. We’ve all had enough stress to deal with over the last 9 months. By taking the time to prepare your home for a short or longer time away, you’ll prevent another year of headaches and a whole lot of money.
Gary Mindlin is co-founder and owner of Top Hat Home Services, a full-service property care and management company. Top Hat services homes in Manhattan and are known as experts in every aspect of building management, maintenance and repair, as well as renovation and construction supervision.