It’s that time of year to clean out gutters and winterize the sprinkler system. But there are tasks to do inside, too, to keep the house in tip top shape over the Winter.
- Change the furnace filter.
Avoid problems with a forced-air heating and cooling system by replacing the filter. This is easy, fast, and will save on Winter heating costs. - Test the sump pump.
To avoid a flooded basement, be sure your pump has a vertical float switch. Also, check your pump by dumping water into the basin to make sure everything is working properly. - Clean window weep holes.
Many sliding windows and vinyl windows have weep holes on the exterior bottom of the frame. These holes drain away rainwater. They can get plugged with bugs and debris, and if that happens, water could fill up the channel and spill over into your walls.
Spray the outside of the window with a garden hose. If you don’t see a steady stream of clean water exiting the weep hole, poke a wire hanger into the hole, or blast it out with compressed air. Repeat until the water runs clear. - Clean refrigerator coils.
Refrigerator condenser coils are located on the back of the fridge or across the bottom. When coils are clogged with dust, pet hair and cobwebs, they can’t efficiently release heat. This makes your compressor work harder and longer, using more energy and shortening the life of your fridge. Clean the coils with a coil-cleaning brush or vacuum. - Clean out window wells.
If water builds up, it can break the window and flood your basement. Keep window wells clean with a cover you can buy at home improvement stores. - Drain sediment from water heater.
Sediment collects at the bottom of the tank. This creates hot spots on gas-powered heaters that can damage the tank and cause premature failure. On an electric water heater, sediment buildup can cause the lower heating element to fail. To avoid this, occasionally drain it to lower energy bills and extend its life. - Check for mice nests.
Inspect crawlspaces and the attic. Seal any cracks and holes. If you currently have fiberglass or cellulose as insulation, check to make sure it isn’t being used as nesting material.
If the current insulation is dirty, wet, or infested, remove it. Here at Foam it Green, we of course recommend sealing the cracks and holes, and replacing old insulation with the tight air seal insulation of spray foam - which is not used as a nesting material for mice.
If you have any questions about your insulating project, please feel free to call us toll free at 800-516-0949. We’re happy to help!
