How to Winterize your home, a Fall Checklist
62Preparing your home for Winter in Ann Arbor Michigan
Fall is the perfect time to prep your home for winter. Jeff Fletcher, president of Saline, MI-based Fletcher Inspections, kindly offered his inspector's checklist. We asked him for tips on how to winterize your Ann Arbor Michigan area home, saving energy, preventing ice damage, and protecting your biggest investment in the process.
- Winterize outdoor spigots
First, turn off the interior water supply to those spigots If you don't have an interior water shut off, then you might want to consider having a plumber install one. Next, open up your outdoor spigots to release residual water. Finally, add water-proof cap to the exterior spigots, which will help to prevent freezing. While you're at it, drain all of your garden hoses and put them away.
- Clean out the gutters
Make sure to clean the gutters as well as the down-spout extensions. Make sure the extensions extend away from the foundation, and that water drains away from your home.
- Add ice melting strips or cables to any awkward roof lines.
Anywhere roof lines meet, ice can build up and potentially damage the home as it freezes and thaws. Heat strips prevent this kind of damage.
- Caulk outdoors and indoors to save energy
Make sure window and door trim and service penetrations (for air conditioning units, gas and cable lines, etc.) are caulked. In the attic, caulk any gaps in the ceiling fixtures that allow heat to escape. It prevents energy loss and also stymies hot spots on the roof. Those hot spots can melt ice and snow on the roof, leading to ice damning and subsequent damage. Any indoor switch on an outdoor (non-partition) wall also needs attention. Special outlet and switch weather stripping kits are sold at hardware stores.
- Make sure the furnace works
It may sound obvious, but on the first day you need your furnace, you want to make sure it's working soundly. Why not call a heating and cooling contractor to check it out? You might want to replace that furnace filter, too.
Jeff Fletcher operates Fletcher Inspection in Saline Michigan and is a great resource for home buyers in the Ann Arbor MI area.
Ann Arbor Michigan Home
Natalie Dalton Level 1 Commenter 2 weeks ago
When winter comes around I always forget about the gutters. My goal next winter is to make that first on my list. Thanks for the other suggestions as well. I will be saving this as a checklist for next winter. Thanks! (http://www.thegutterexperts.com)