Consumer Watch: Winterize your home

Ellen Phillips
Ellen Phillips

Q: Since this winter is the first in my own home, I want to winterize before bad weather hits and avoid unnecessary repairs. Any tips? I'm a single mom. --Harrietta Homeowner

A: While owning your own home is great, the down side is the necessity for repairs when trouble strikes. Being proactive is a savvy strategy, and I'm delighted to add my two cents worth, with help from RealSimple.com.

photo Ellen Phillips

Insulate your pipes and outdoor faucets. I (er, my husband) tends to these in autumn. Any exposed pipe that runs along a wall or in an unseated area is at risk. When temperatures drop below 32 degrees and water freezes, look out for gushing water. Hardware stores sell pipe insulation, which looks like a giant spaghetti noodle with a slit. Get enough for all potentially affected pipes. Cut it to length, wrap the pipe and secure the insulation with duct tape. Don't forget to buy insulated covers for your outdoor faucets to prevent a water explosion. They're cheap and reusable.

Trim trees in fall before ice hits. Dead trees, long limbs and broken branches are vulnerable to wind, snow and ice. If they fall, they can bring power lines down and cause damage to your home. Call a tree expert to identify any potential hazards.

Don't let leaves and debris clog your gutters. If they ice up, the mass can get under the shingles and damage your roof. Cleaning the gutters will take a couple of hours (for a small- to medium-size house) and require the use of a tall ladder. If you are not experienced, call a handyman for help.

Irrigation systems need to be blown out to prevent expansion and cracking of the pipes. You can check and follow the manufacturer's website instructions, but I strongly suggest calling an irrigation specialist to do the job.

Avoid frozen locks. Spray a small amount of powdered-graphite lubricant into door locks, then turn the key in it. Once a year is usually sufficient.

Mulch your flower beds. a light layer of mulch will help regulate soil temperatures and act as insulation against frigid temperatures, which, in turn, will protect your vulnerable plants.

Clean and check your fireplace and furnace. Hire a professional chimney sweeper to clean the fireplace annually to get rid of built-up creosote and soot, which can ignite and cause a fire. If you rarely use your fireplace or have a gas one, you can get by with an inspection every three years. As far as the furnace is concerned, hire a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) contractor to ensure your boiler/furnace (or air-conditioner in spring) is working properly for maximum efficiency. (Feel free to email me if you wish the name of the company with which I do business.)

If you follow these steps before Mother Nature decides to whomp us, you'll be well on your way to a Happy New Year!

Contact Ellen Phillips at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com.

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