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As of last week, autumn is officially upon us. This means it’s now time for\u00a0a few maintenance rituals\u00a0to secure\u00a0our homes for the upcoming cold. When it comes to protecting your property, tackling\u00a0these easy chores now will\u00a0save you time and money later this winter<\/p>\n
For Wisconsin homeowners, cleaning your gutters and downspouts is\u00a0an important task you’ll\u00a0want to finish before the weather turns cold. Leaves, twigs and residue easily clog gutters and if not removed can cause ice dams<\/a> later in winter. For safety tips on cleaning your gutters, check here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Wisconsin’s snow, ice and wind can be hard on trees. When winter-laden\u00a0branches fall on your house, they\u00a0become damaging and\u00a0expensive. Clear out any limbs that overhang your buildings\u00a0and any dead branches that could be blown from the trees.<\/p>\n Before firing up your furnace for that first chilly day, be sure to give it an overall clean. Clear the air vents and ducts of dust. Change the filter in both the furnace and the built-in humidifier, if it has one. Be sure to also clean the area surrounding your furnace; the floor of debris and cobwebs from the ceiling. This is especially important if your furnace is\u00a0a wood-burning unit. And finally, to insure your furnace’s most efficient performance, have it tuned\u00a0regularly by a professional technician.<\/p>\n A wood fireplace or wood-burning furnace are agreeably warm pleasures of winter. Unfortunately, they are also synonymous with chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. Before you light that first fire, check that\u00a0all chimneys and flues are free of debris and\u00a0in good working order. Professionals advise that wood-burning chimneys be cleaned four times a year. They also suggest that gas, oil and coal burning chimneys be cleaned once a year.<\/p>\n One never knows when to expect that first frost here in Wisconsin\u00a0so now is a good time to drain and put away garden hoses, and drain outdoor faucets and in-ground sprinklers. Check indoor plumbing for leaks. Identify indoor pipes that commonly freeze and be prepared to wrap those during the extreme cold.<\/p>\n2. Trim Trees and Clear Dead Branches<\/h2>\n
3.\u00a0Check Your Furnace<\/h2>\n
4. Sweep that\u00a0Chimney<\/h2>\n
5. Prepare Plumbing<\/h2>\n