Time to get ready for fall in Colorado? It’s warm and sunny outside right now, but autumn is right around the corner. It’s a great time to start thinking about getting your home ready for the colder weather to come.
Here are a few tips to help get your home ready for the cooler temperatures and more comfortable during those winter evenings.
1. Clean and Inspect Your Furnace
Even as your furnace blower is cranking out air conditioning to keep you cool during the summer, many neglect it. It’ll soon be time to turn the heat back on. You’ll be breathing in whatever air the furnace circulates. So now is the time to do a little preventive maintenance. Before turning on the heat it’s always important to replace the air filter. This will help keep the air in your home cleaner and help the unit run more efficiently. Today there are a wide variety of replacement filter options for everything from allergy relief to pet dander control. If your furnace has a permanent filter, follow the directions and only use safe and recommended cleaning solutions.
2. Turn Off and Drain Outside Faucets
The faucets you use to water your lawn and wash your car can freeze during the winter months. It’s rare, but it can happen. If they’re not shut off and drained before the cold weather hits, the water trapped inside the pipes can expand when it freezes and lead to the pipes bursting or cracking. This can cause expensive catastrophes.
All of the outside faucets should have shut-off valves inside the house that are located close to where the faucet line exits the basement. Now is a good time to check that yours are working properly. If for some reason you don’t have them in your home, contact a plumber to have them installed.
Once the valves are shut off it’s important to go outside and turn on the faucet and let all of the water in the line drain out. Once it’s completely drained, turn the faucet back to its off position.
3. Give Your Air Conditioning Units a Break
Central air conditioning systems should be powered down and shut off at the breaker box in your home. Check to see if there’s also a shut-off switch on the outside unit because that should be turned off too.
For window air conditioners, they should be removed from the window and stored in a warm dry place. Before storing, don’t forget to clean out all filters. This will not only protect the unit from the elements but will also ensure that no cold air will be slipping into your home this winter.
4. Get a Chimney and Roof Check-Up
If installed properly, the lifespan of an asphalt shingle roof is 15 to 20 years. It’s better to catch any problems now than to have water leaking into your home during a cold fall downpour.
Look for any signs of missing shingles or ones that are loose or worn from rot or mold on them. Examine your eavestroughs to see if there are any asphalt granules in them. This could be a sign that your shingles are wearing out. Also, check the flashing which is the metal lip between the shingles and the eavestrough. It’s supposed to be firmly attached. If you have a roof with solar panels, Steel City Solar is happy to come out and perform a full inspection to ensure your panels are working their hardest to save you money.
Inspect your chimney for any signs of wear or crumbling bricks. Also, look inside to make sure there aren’t any squirrels or bird nests that have taken up residence there!
If you have an attic, go up and look at the underside of your roof for any holes or water damage. Check all of your vents and insulation in the attic too. Make sure there aren’t any signs of infestation there. If you’re not comfortable with doing any of the work that needs to be done to inspect your roof and chimney, have a professional take care of it. Your roof is higher up than you think and it’s generally not safe to go up beyond one story on your roof. When it comes to insulation, remember Steel City Solar is here with quick and easy insulation solutions to end those drafts. Now is the perfect time to set your family up for a warm and cozy winter.
5. Caulk Around Doors, Windows, and Other Openings
This will make sure there’s no cold air getting into your home from outside. It will also ensure that none of your air-conditioning is escaping. Even if you’ve already performed this task during the spring, it’s a good idea to do it in the fall too. There may be some spots that need a little extra caulking.
Besides doors and windows, applying caulk around any vents like the one near your dryer or bathroom vent is also important. Don’t forget about any area where pipes or cables run from your home to outside. Making sure you have a good seal on any of these trouble spots will not only keep your home better insulated but also save you money.
Pueblo, Colorado: Call Now to Get Your Property Ready for Fall
If you have any questions about insulating your home or ways to save money on your electric bills, we have a solution. Reach out to our home efficiency pros here at Steel City Solar for answers to your questions. Our local team will be happy to help you with any challenges you’re having with your property. We can assist you with energy-efficient and solar solutions for your residential or commercial or agricultural space, including solar panel expansion and repair, roofing, and insulation. You can give us a call today at 719-569-5166 or visit our website.
