Time to Get a Head Start on Old Man Winter

The air-conditioning may still be going full blast, but it’s time to be thinking about Old Man Winter and the arctic blasts sure to come our way. With that in mind, the Better Business Bureau offers five actions to put on your to-do list for the Fall:

1. Schedule your sprinkler blowout. In-ground sprinkler systems need to be blown out with air compressors to ensure pipes and sprinkler heads don’t freeze and crack over the winter. Waiting till the last minute means the job may not get done before the first hard frost.
2. Have your furnace checked by an expert. He/she will make sure everything is safe and in working order. A typical home furnace reaches the end of its useful life after 15 years and may need repair or replacement. At the very least install a new furnace filter and consider switching out your old thermostat for a programmable unit. The U.S. Department of Energy says you can save as much as 1 percent on your energy bill for every degree you lower your home’s temperature during winter.
3. Winterize, winterize, winterize. Before El Nino takes up residence, get out the caulk gun and seal outside gaps around doors and windows; apply window insulation film, which can prevent 70 percent of the heat from leaking out; weatherstrip around windows and doors; and add draft guards to exterior doors.
4. Beef up your insulation. Add more insulation to your attic floor and any exposed walls if you’re doing it yourself; or call in experts to have it blown inside existing walls and the attic. Remember, the higher the insulation R-value, the warmer your house will be.
5. Check your chimney. Nothing ruins a cozy night in front of the fireplace faster than a chimney that coughs out black smoke. Before you light the first fire, have your chimney checked and cleaned by a professional chimney sweep.

Before hiring a contractor to help you get your home ready for winter, be sure to check them out first at bbb.org, where you’ll learn more about the business, how long it’s been in business and what customers are saying.