Winter Checklist  

Enjoy a season’s worth of savings by taking a few steps to protect your home from cold winter weather:

• Allow winter’s rain and melting snow to properly drain by removing fall leaves and other debris from your gutters.
• Consider having your furnace professionally cleaned and tuned annually. Replace furnace filters monthly, if needed.
• Repair any obvious leaks in the most common drafty areas: recessed lighting, window and door frames and electrical outlets.
• Feeling drafty? Check the attic to make sure you see a minimum of 12 inches of insulation.
• Check crawlspace for flooding after the first long rainfall.
• Check your heating ducts and clean out any abundant dust, animal hair and other debris that can gather and cause respiratory issues.
• Reverse your ceiling fans to force warm air downward, keeping your home more comfortable. Note to self: As you look up, blades should be turning clockwise during winter months.
• Make sure you have at least one fire extinguisher on each floor and in the garage.
• If you haven’t checked the operation and change the batteries in your home’s smoke detector…now is a great time to do so.
• Invest in a carbon –monoxide detector: Every home should have at least one. They also make great utilitarian holiday gifts.