It’s back-to-school time, and that means falling leaves and winter snows aren’t far away. If you’re like most home-owners, you want to make sure your home is ready for cold weather, so you can enjoy the winter holidays without any trouble. Here are some fall home maintenance checklist tips from Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide is a deadly, odorless, colorless gas that accidentally kills 170 Americans every year. Most deaths occur during the winter, since one of the major sources of carbon monoxide (CO) is faulty furnaces. That means fall is the ideal time to install CO detectors, or, if you already have them, make sure they’re working. For the best possible protection, look for CO detectors combined with smoke detectors. If you already have detectors, test them according to the manufacturer’s instructions and replace the batteries.
Furnace Check
Another important fall home maintenance checklist item is a furnace check. The last thing you want is for your furnace to conk out in the middle of a freezing Northeast Ohio night. By getting your furnace checked out by a certified HVAC technician, you can ensure everything is in working order. If everything checks out but you still feel cold, it can help to check your windows and doors for air leaks, as well as other places along the exterior of your home.
Gutter and Downspout Cleaning
Once the leaves start falling, if you have leafy trees on your property, check your rain gutters and downspouts regularly to make sure they’re clear of leaves. A leaf blower is an easy way to blow leaves off the roof and out of the gutters but make sure you have someone spotting you when you’re on the ladder or roof. Clogged gutters can lead to damaging roof-top ice dams in the winter, and also cause storm water to spill over the gutters and down into your home’s foundation.
More Information
For more expert advice on how to get your home ready for the cold Lorain area winter, please contact us today at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. Our qualified professionals can help make sure your home is prepared for winter.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about home maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area