Winter Maintenance for Your Home

Perform Routine Some Maintenance Before You Leave For Winter!

Fire Island is a summer town and that means many leave during the cold, winter months. Hard to enjoy the beach when it is below freezing! At Fire Island Property Management, we deal with fall closings and spring openings to help you manage the winter months. As well as professional inspections before winter. Let's take a look at some winter maintenance aspects for Fire Island homeowners.

Heating System Maintenance

Before winter, here are some routine checks to make sure it is in good working condition, because even if you vacate your Fire Island home for the winter, you want the heating system to be operable.

• Get a professional inspection of your heating system and have your fuel tanks filled before you leave. Consider getting periodic fuel deliveries depending on how long you are gone. And if possible, have someone check in on the heat and fuel levels.
• Keep electrical power if that is a requirement of keeping the heating system fully operational. If you do need the electric on for the heating, it is wise to have someone inspect your electrical panel, wiring and outlets to make sure nothing is in danger of shorting and potentially being a fire hazard. Repair or replace any defective issues that arise from the inspection.
• Get a professional inspection of your furnace or boiler once a year ideally before the winter to make sure it is still in good working condition.
• Clean or replace the furnace filter on forced hot air systems.
• Have your chimney checked and serviced by a licensed contractor once a year and pay extra attention to the creosote buildup. Have the creosote removed if potentially hazardous, since it is a high danger hazard for fires.

Here are some maintenance options during the winter months.

• Check on the fuel tank levels throughout the winter months to make sure you get to the end with fuel.
• Set your heat no lower than 55 degrees during the winter when you are gone. This is the lowest the temperature should be as the temperature inside the walls where water piping is located is colder than the living spaces.
• Keep the doors open to keep an even temperature throughout the home.

Insulation Maintenance

Having proper insulation for the cold winter months is crucial. Insulation is an important line of defense from the winter's gusty winds and freezing temperatures, so it is worth the expense to make sure you have the proper insulation. Here are some tips on insulation maintenance for vacated winter homes.

• Have the insulation and weather stripping upgraded before winter.
• Add extra insulation in the attic to help guard against ice dams. If too much heat escapes into the attic, then it can warm the ice and snow on the roof. When this ice and snow refreezes, it can cause an ice dam, which can then lead to water damage inside the home or potentially even collapse the roof. All can be avoided with some extra insulation!
• Add weather stripping around the doors and caulk windows in order to guard against drafts and potential heat loss.
• Remove screens from windows and install storm window where needed.

Winter Safety Measures

Before heading out for winter, there are some key safety measures you can take to help keep your home in good working condition and safe from the elements.

• Trim all of the trees and remove dead branches. This way they do not damage your home or injure someone if they fall because of ice, snow or wind.
• Clean your gutters of all leaves, sticks and debris to make sure that melting snow can drain properly during the winter.
• Make sure your downspouts direct water away from your foundation. Otherwise you might be susceptible to basement flooding.
• Check the smoke detectors, fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors before leaving. Replace batteries to ensure they are operating properly.
• Repair your steps and handrails to make them safer in the ice and snow.
• Unplug all unnecessary appliances.