Are you ready for winter?

It is 1 AM in the morning. The temperature is dropping quickly 32, 30, 29 degrees and going lower. Oops the water hose is still connected and the outdoor spigot is still in the on position. To make matters worse the exterior shut off valve is in the crawl space. Finally you reach the shut off valve and what do you find, the valve is seized and you can not shut it down.

How about the once a year snow storm and poor flashing on the roof valley. You knew about it but put it off. Now you run the risk of serious water penetration.

At the end of the winter last year you were having issues with your heating system. You decided to hold off until next winter to fix it. Did you?????

You can prevent most disastrous situations from happening with just a few hours of pre maintenance planning.

It is not too late to take action and prepare for the winter moths that are now upon us. All homeowner can perform a basic check of their home if you know what to look for. Typically you are aware of what is happening with your home when it becomes obvious. It is the other issues you are not aware of that are of concern. There are clues to forewarn you and to help you side step emergency repairs and frustrating incidents.

I suggest you make a check off list. Obviously all homes are not equal and some things may be more of an issue than others. You need to start with the issues you know about and then go from there.

What I am recommending is for you to do a visual inspection of your home from the roof to the basement and then handle the items you are able to and call a professional to take care of the rest of the concerns.

What I can safely state is if something is going to go wrong it usually will be at the wrong time.

As a home owner you can pre inspect for areas of failure.

1. Your Exterior
   Our concern is to prevent water intrusion. Regardless of the exterior covering, brick, stucco, wood, vinyl they will fail over time. With proper maintenance you can extend the life of the exterior 20 fold. Clean the exterior, remove growth on the walls, caulk and seal and paint regularly. You can visit the following web sites for further information. www.vinylsiding.org, www.apa, www.houseandhome.msn.com. 
   
   
2. Your Roof
   it is recommended you do not climb your roof. Leave that to the professionals. By looking out windows and using binoculars you can search for missing or broken shingles, missing or defective flashing and gutters that are not working properly. Poorly performing gutters and downspouts will lead to substantial water issues. Clean out the gutters and make sure your downspouts are flowing freely. Especially check the underground drain lines. Look for leaks into the facia boards and have these corrected as soon as possible. Go into the attic and use a flashlight to look for signs of leaks.
   
   The chimney stack is a major source of leaks and issues. Try these links to learn more: www.nrca.net, http://www.csia.org
   
   
3. Your Windows and Doors
   If you have older windows consider changing the glass or install new windows. Exterior paint that is peeling or caulk that is failing should be cut out and replaced. All rotted wood should be replaced and repaired then caulked sealed and painted. If you have windows with air leaks then use insulating window film to help cut down the leaks or consider installing new windows. All windows should be made operable.
   
   Doors should be tested for operation and all hinges and locks lubricated. Tighten any loose hinges. By running a lit candle over the door seals you can see if you have any drafts. The other method is to have a second person shine a flashing light through the jambs. If you see light shining through then you have air leaks.
   
   Check these links: www.dap.com, www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo, www.3m.com/US/home_leisure/index.jhtml 
   
   
4. Your Foundation
   A poor foundation only means problems. Water should be flowing away from your foundation and not to it. Downspouts dropping water into the foundation wall, backing up or non existent will only bring water into your basement. Do not add soil around your foundation wall to create a slope unless the height of the grade is correct. If you have a brick wall then the grade must be 4 inches below the top of the foundation wall. If you have siding, stucco or any other material the rule of thumb is to have your grade 6 inches below the top of the foundation wall. Especially make sure there is clear visibility to the foundation wall between the bottom of the exterior cover on the wall and the top of the grade. Do not store any outside material against your wall. Repair all openings in the wall with a concrete seal.
   
   Repair all walkways and driveways and seal all cracks.
   
   Links to check out www.rce.rutgers.edu/home/default.asp
   
   
5. Your Heating & Cooling
   clean your outdoor systems and then shut them down for the winter by turning off the main breaker. You may even wish to put a cover over the exterior units for added protection. Closely examine your exhaust flue vents that take out the gases when your system is working. Look for any loose pipes, poor connections or rust in the pipe. See if you have any unusual smells. You can take some liquid soap and spray it around the gas pipe connections to see if you have any gas leaks. (Bubbles mean you have a leak). Install new filters and make sure the filter access is sealed properly.
   
   We recommend an annual servicing of all systems by a qualified heating and air technician.
   
   Your clothes dryer is another source of concern. Make sure all lint is cleared from the lines and behind your dryer. Check and make sure the venting is working properly by running your system and then standing at the termination point and watching what happens. If you do not have air movement then get it serviced.
   
   
6. Your Plumbing
   Your concern is to protect against freezing pipes. Most outdoor water spigots have an inside shut off valve. Turn this valve off and then open the exterior water spigot and leave it open. This will drain any water that is directly exposed to the exterior and subject to freezing. If you have exposed pipes in a crawl, basement or attic then make sure they are insulated and protected against freezing temperatures. If you have a serious drop in temperature it is a good idea to let your inside faucets drip that is on exterior walls.
   
   If you are going away in the winter for an extended period of time, consider shutting your water system down completely.
   
   Link: www.nassau-phcc.com
   
   
7. Your Trees
   any tree that is too close to your home presents a threat. Trim all branches that over hangs your roof. If the tree is too close consider removing because not only do the branches pose a threat but the roots also pose a threat to your foundation.
   
   
8. Your Outdoor Lighting and Outlets
   you should make it a point to at least check your exterior outlets once a year for operation and safety. All exterior outlets should be ground fault protected. If they are not you can purchase GFCI receptacles at your local hardware store and install them. Test periodically to make sure they are working. This is a good time to check your automatic timers and make sure they are set to operate based on your individual needs.
   
   
9. Your Garage Door
   Garage doors come loose over time; build up of debris in the tracks can cause failure. Do a complete service and clean up and new lubrication of all working parts. Tighten all connecting points.
   
   
10. Miscellaneous
    If you have a generator, then change the gas out, add oil and start the generator. Make sure you have a can of gas in a ready position in case of an emergency. It is a good idea to start your generator at least once every 2 weeks to make sure it works. When you need it to operate it will be very cold and you will be under stress.
    
    Change batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Run a test to make sure they work.
    
    Put all summer equipment away for the winter and make sure to winterize any gas operated equipment. If you have winter gas equipment, then make sure it works before the winter sets in.
    
    It is always a good idea to make sure you have a supply of candles, matches and batteries to go with your flashlights. An emergency power flashlight plugged into an outlet is a safe bet in an emergency.
    
    With a little bit of pre planning you can help to protect yourself in an emergency. If you do not have time to do this pre check, then consider hiring the services of a home inspector to do a winter check off list for you.