Mantenance Memo's

Winter is upon us, and with it comes cold weather and sometimes higher heating bills.  No one likes to be cold or paying higher bills.  To help us prepare for winter Alan has a plan that you can implement at home as well. 

 

1. Check your home for leaks and drafts. 

 You can use window insulation kits to seal off leaking windows.  These can be found at most hardware stores as well as box stores such as Walmart and Target.    Cover mail slots and pet doors with heavy towels to keep cold air out.  Using blackout curtains can also help hold heat in your house.  Keep them open in the daytime to allow sunlight in, and closed in the night to keep cold air out and heat in. 

2.  Have your chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional.  This will reduce the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. 

3.  Change the batteries in all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.  Have an emergency plan in place in case of fire or carbon monoxide detection.  Practice this plan with family members and pets during a warm day. 

4.  Have a yearly furnace inspection completed prior to winter and repair or replace if necessary.  Keep furnace filters changed monthly and ensure all ducts are open to allow heat into each room. 

Clean air ducts to reduce allergens and allow proper air flow.  This can be done by yourself or by hiring a professional. 

5.  Use a programmable thermostat and set it to a cooler temperature during times when you are not home and at night when you are sleeping. 

6.  Reverse ceiling fan blades.  In the winter it’s best to have ceiling fans move clockwise to help push the warm air downward