Homeowners in Springfield and the surrounding area know to expect a good amount of snow throughout the winter months. Most of us have developed a great routine where winterization and chimney care is concerned. Let’s look at 8 ways to winterize your home and prepare your chimney for winter.
- Roof – Inspect your roof for damage or missing shingles. You can get a pretty good idea of the condition of your roof with a visual inspection. If you think some shingles look out of place or damaged, you will need to climb onto the roof for a better look.
- Guttering – The guttering is probably full of leaves unless you’ve already had it cleaned this year. A lot of homeowners clean the guttering in October just after the leaves start to fall. Several more leaves fall during November, so you may need to give it a go again.
- Sprinklers – Turn the sprinklers off entirely, remove the hose, and drain the sprinklers themselves so leftover water doesn’t freeze and break them.
- Heat Source – Have the boiler, heat pump, or whatever heat source you use tuned up and inspected. Turning the heat on and nothing happens is the last thing you want.
- Inspect Duct Work – Make sure there are no gaps or cold spots in your duct work. Leaky duct work means that the heating system has to work harder to properly warm the home, and you’re losing heat along the way.
- Chimney – Have the chimney inspected and cleaned by a CSIA certified chimney sweep. We would be happy to schedule an appointment with you at our earliest convenience.
- Doors and Windows – Remove all screens and install storm doors and storm windows if possible. They add a secondary barrier against the cold winter chill without the use of plastic on the windows. Install new weatherstripping as needed, and caulk around the door and window frames to seal out drafts. Use a rolled up towel or a draft stopper at the bottom of each door that leads to outside.
- Attic – Make sure the attic has at least the minimum amount of insulation and that there are no warm spots. A warm attic is one of the leading causes of ice dams during the winter. The roof gets warm, some snow melts and refreezes as it reaches the end of the roof where it’s colder, and this process repeats until you have a nice, big ice dam.
Most Springfield homeowners have already performed most winterization duties and are looking forward to a happy holiday season with loved ones. Remember all of your fireplace and chimney safety rules, and have a happy holiday season.
Don’t trust just any chimney sweep with your chimney services. Lou Curley’s Chimney Service is located in Drexel Hill and we provide all types of chimney services throughout the Main Line. Call us at 610-626-2439 to schedule an appointment for a consultation.