Switching the thermostat from Cool to Heat has always marked a point during the year for me when I finally admit to myself that the warm season is over and the cold season begins. It is also a reminder to do some Autumn maintenance in preparation for those colder days to come.Replacing the furnace filter and getting your furnace serviced is always a great way to start. Winter tends to be dry, if you don’t have a humidifier you may want to consider having one installed. If you have a humidifier, check that it is clean. Like your furnace, the cleaner it is; the better it works.
Have you ever noticed through past winters that some rooms of your home are colder and others much warmer? A Home Heat Balancing may help. Heat balancing changes the way the heat flows around the home to make it the most comfortable and efficient. Hot air naturally rises so ideal air flow is different in the Winter. In the Summer, upstairs supply vents are often opened up and the downstairs ones closed. You may find that you need to do the opposite in the Winter. If a room isn’t used during the winter, you may want to redirect the heat elsewhere.
Check the weather stripping around doors, windows and electrical outlets on exterior walls. Under exterior doors there is a weather stripping known as a “sweep” those are often forgotten and do need replacing from time to time to prevent cold air from getting in.
Scott Ratcliffe, local Small Engine Repair Service Technician, suggests mowing the leaves once they’re dry (his full advice is published on AskStevenSilva.ca). If you wait until all the leaves have fallen and dried up before cutting the grass one last time, you will find come spring time the lawn will be healthier and clean. Consider cleaning out the eavestroughs. Clean eavestroughs prevent them from icing up easily and overflowing. Since the ladder is out, why not get a head start on putting up the Holiday lighting before the ground is covered in ice and snow.
With a little advance preparation we can be ready to enjoy the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year”!