AUTUMN CLEANUP AND WINTER READINESS
Autumn is the time when we naturally start to think about tightening
up our homes to get ready for winter. It is a great season
to schedule those home improvement projects that will reduce
our heating costs, and keep our homes warm and cozy during
the cold months to come.
• Install energy efficient doors and windows
• Replace leaky gutters
• Add insulation and ventilation to help reduce heat loss
• Certain types of houses (Cape Cods, homes with cathedral
ceilings, and homes with little or no overhangs, to name a
few) are more prone to ice damming than other designs.
We also suggest the following fall maintenance activities:
• Check your roof - to make sure the pipe flashings are properly
sealed. If the flashing (the outer casing for the vent pipe)
isn't tightly sealed, water will drip through . Since most
builders use the less expensive rubber seals, they could be
brittle and cracked if they’ve been in service six (6)
years or longer.
• Check your chimney - Many homeowners remember to care for
the inside of the chimney by calling a chimney sweep to clean
it, but forget that the outside needs attention, too. At the
top of your chimney, check to see if the cement is cracked,
and that the flashing is sealed correctly. The flashing should
be checked annually .
• Check your gutters - You may not need new ones, but you
will probably need to clean your old ones! This is most important
in late autumn, after the leaves have finished falling from
the trees. If you are burdened by the annual cleaning of your
gutters, why not call us to have leaf guards installed to prevent
debris buildup inside your gutters?
• Check your paint - checking caulk seams for cracks is important
since that’s where most wood rot begins. Remember, painting
is preventative maintenance. Don’t wait until you have
rotting wood to get a paint job, because the cost will be significantly
higher than just a paint job.
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