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Thursday, November 15, 2012

Winterizing Your Home

Here's a reposting of the winterizing tips that Miller & Smith's Warranty Department sent to us last month.

At a minimum, it's probably a good idea to turn off your rear hose bib (from inside your mechanical room) since you likely won't be using the hose anymore and that way you won't forget.


As colder weather approaches you can take a few key steps to ensure your home serves you well through the coming months. Please take time to check these items in and around your home and attend to any that need maintenance.

  • Clean, test and replace batteries in smoke alarms
  • Test and reset ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) breakers/receptacles
  • Change furnace filter
  • Operate heating system; if service is needed it is more conveniently arranged before the busiest part of the season arrives.
  • Adjust registers and dampers.
  • Drain your [outside lawn] sprinkler system
  • "Winterize" exterior faucets to prevent water from freezing and expanding into the pipe causing a broken water line.
  • Adjust or replace weather-stripping on exterior doors as needed.
  • Check the fit of exterior doors; thresholds are adjustable -- use a quarter to turn the screws.
  • Check caulking, inside and out, and touch up.
  • Review safe fireplace operation. Provide professional cleaning at regular intervals.
  • Check the garage overhead door, tighten bolts as needed, and lubricate the rollers in the tracks. Have other repairs done by professionals.
  • Clean gutters, check downspouts and confirm that splash blocks drain away from the house.
  • Check foundation, concrete, and yard for settling; fill in as needed for positive drainage.
  • After snowfall, brush snow off gutters and away from downspouts.
  • Remove ice and snow from concrete and masonry promptly; avoid de-icing agents with damaging salts.

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