It’s fall in Bergen County. One day it’s cool, one day it’s warm as we move toward winter. Trees are ablaze with color as leaves swirl in the wind while they tumble to the ground. This is one of the most beautiful times of the year. Sunlight takes on a special glow as the days grow noticeably shorter. Because this is such a bucolic season, we often forget to get your house ready for winter now.
Winter seems so far away right now but snow comes before you know it. December is only a few weeks away. January and February can be the biggest snow months of the year. Winter is only a month or two away. Let’s get your house ready for winter now before it’s freezing cold.
Begin By Sealing
Caulk is your friend. So is silicone. Walk around your home both inside and out. Seal up cracks and openings you see. Weather strip windows and doors. Seal visible cracks, wall switches and electrical outlets. Hire someone if you don’t have the time because a few hundred here saves you thousands later.
Check Your Insulation
Insulate your attic. Attic insulation saves heating costs and helps to avoid ice dams and roof decay. Because ice dams can cause thousands of dollars in repairs you need to be sure your attic is well insulated, and you can get professionals from Palm Beach Roofing Expert to help you install this.
Service Your Furnace
Keep your furnace running as efficiently as possible by having it serviced before the heating system starts. Because furnace breakdowns happen with the 1st cold snap, make sure you get this done now. It’s no fun freezing for hours in January while waiting for help because your furnace broke down.
Service and/or Buy Snow Removal Equipment
Remember last winter? The scenes of empty store shelves because shovels and snow blowers sold out before you got there after work? Or how your neighbor howled when his snow blower wouldn’t start? Furthermore the middle of a storm is no time to set up snow plowing service. Do that now too.
Clean and Check Gutters & Downspouts
Clogged, leaking and broken gutters and downspouts create havoc. Thousands and thousands and thousands of havoc. Get the gutters cleaned as often as you need to and make sure everything is fine.
Service Your Fireplace
Fireplace dampers can leak. When they do, heat literally escapes out the chimney. Because of this, have your damper checked along with the rest of the fireplace and chimney. Safety alone demands that the chimney be regularly cleaned.
Invest in a Programmable Thermostat
Everyone knows that programmable thermostats save significant heating costs. You don’t have to spend hundreds on remote operated digitized units. A simple programmable thermostat will do the trick.
If you get your house ready for winter now you’ll avoid expensive problems and the stress of catching up in the future. If you need any help at all, call me at 201-741-8490.
