Preparing Your Home for the Cooler Months
This year is certainly flying by, and with the fall just a month away, it’s a great time to start prepping your home before warm weather turns to cooler temperatures. From water leaks to the chimney, it’s better to be ready for the cold season…before it hits.
Here, State Farm offers up some pre-fall maintenance tips for your home: Check all window and door locks for proper operation • Windows that can be opened by breaking the glass and unlocking them, are less effective deterrents to criminals. Check with the hardware store for window lock alternatives. Make sure there are working nightlights at the top and bottom of all stairs Other safety ideas for stairs: • Tile and painted wood or concrete stairs can be slippery when wet or when a person's shoes are wet. Resurface the treads with slip-resistant strips near the stair nosing. Have a heating professional check your heating system every year • Woodburning stove connector pipes and chimneys should be inspected by a certified chimney sweep at least annually. Replace your furnace filter • Furnace filters need to be replaced frequently to allow your heating and cooling systems to operate properly. Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel tank is empty • By doing this, you are removing flammable liquid storage from your garage. At the same time, make sure you aren't storing dirty, oily rags in a pile. They can ignite spontaneously. Remove bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor electrical fixtures • Bird nests on top of light fixtures are a fire hazard. Bird nests in chimney flues can prevent a proper venting of combustion gases and can catch fire from sparks. You should exercise great caution when working on your roof or consider hiring a qualified professional to take care of any work that needs to be done. Make sure the caulking around doors and windows is adequate to reduce heat/cooling loss • Check glazing for loose or missing putty or glazing compound. This will also help reduce water damage to the windows and door frames. |
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