It’s fall, the official season to prepare for winter. October is the best time to get started winterizing your home and making sure your backup heat is ready for use. Today we’re going to look at several great ways to winterize your home and then the best way to make sure your fireplace and chimney are ready for the first fire of winter.

  1. Clean the roof and gutters, and replace or repair any missing or loose shingles.
  2. Remove any low-hanging branches that may cause roof damage when snow hits.
  3. Insulate the pipes so you don’t have to worry about water lines bursting this winter.
  4. Change the batteries in the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
  5. Stockpile several days’ worth of firewood at a time so you don’t run out mid-disaster.
  6. Perform draft tests to locate areas that may be leaking air. Key areas to inspect include electrical outlets, wall joints, light fixtures, window and door frames, attic doors, and ceiling and plumbing penetrations.
  7. Seal off all air leaks you find during the draft tests. You can use caulk around windows, insulated boxes made for electrical outlets, and weatherstripping to ensure your home is properly sealed.
  8. Call an HVAC technician to test your heat pump and make sure it is ready for winter weather.
  9. Call a CSIA Certified chimney sweep to inspect and clean your fireplace or wood stove and chimney to ensure they’re up for winter weather in case the power goes out.

The Farmer’s Almanac predicts heavy snow and cold temperatures again this winter. We thought last winter was bad enough with the heavy, wet snows and freezing temperatures, but early predictions say we’re in for another bad one this year. Allow us to show you how we can help ensure your fireplace and chimney will be functional and safe when they’re needed.

Please remember that it is potentially very unsafe to burn even that first fire to knock the autumn chill out of the air before a proper chimney inspection and cleaning. Creosote is extremely combustible and can cause a chimney fire, or there may be a nest of small creatures living in the chimney to impede the normal flow of smoke and gases.

Lou Curley 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. We’ll make sure your fireplace and chimney are up to par and ready for the coming winter weather. We are homeowners as well, so we understand the worries you currently have regarding backup heat during the winter.