| Painful though it is to admit, winter is on the way. A “transitional” month here in Chicago, November can pack both some surprises — whatever the weather, there’s no doubt cold weather looms ahead. So Get Dwell recommends your to-do list this month includes a host of weatherizing items. |
1. The Air You Breathe—Keep it Healthy!
If you live in a home that has an HVAC system, the best thing you can do to keep your home healthy is to keep the HVAC humidifier and ductwork clean. We’re always shocked at the amount of mold and mildew these systems have growing in them. Left uncleaned over time, pet and human dander, construction debris and everyday dust can accumulate. Spore-based and other life forms can attach to, eat and thrive in this wet-then-dry-then-wet-again environment—spores can then get blown throughout your entire home. This constant exposure is not good for humans or pets. If you’re unsure if your ductwork and humidifier are clean and free of organic life, contact us and we’ll make sure it gets handled professionally. If you like, we can set up a maintenance plan to keep your entire air handling system clean.
2. Take Time to Change Batteries
Daylight Saving Time ends Nov 6 at 2:00 a.m.—time to turn clocks back an hour. It’s also a great time to change batteries in devices that you rely upon for the safety and efficient operation of your home. These include smoke alarms and CO2 detectors and other battery-operated items such as the exterior garage keypad, key fobs, water alarms, thermostats, keyless remotes and other smart appliances such as doorbells and your home security system. And don’t forget your flashlights! FYI: Your neighborhood hardware store now has 10-year batteries for many of these items.
3. Avoid a Frosty and Costly Mistake
Unless your exterior faucet is frost-proof, you need to turn off the water before the first real freeze by closing the shut-off valve inside the house that leads to the faucet. This spigot, also commonly called a sillcock (or hose bib) is a major cause of emergency plumbing calls and basement or crawlspace flooding; if the water freezes inside it and bursts, you’ve got a mess on your hands. A worry-free solution is to install a frost-proof faucet that automatically traps the water inside the house so it doesn’t freeze in the winter. Be sure that the faucet is insulated correctly and beware that if you don’t disconnect your hose from it before winter, the seals will burst, causing continuous drip, drip, dripping until it’s repaired or replaced … a waste of water and money. Frost-free sillcocks are available at your favorite family-owned hardware store—the folks there can help you determine the proper size. If you’d like a plumber to install one, schedule services here.
4. Get your mind out of the gutter this season!
Gutters are always one of the top trouble areas for any home—especially in the Chicago area, where they really take a beating from the weather. Gutters don’t get cleaned, sealed, pitched and functioning correctly by themselves—they need maintenance over time. When clogged with leaves and debris, your home’s gutters prevent water from flowing where it is supposed to and can lead to damage to your property. In short, properly functioning gutters are essential to your home’s defense against water. Many homeowners seriously injure themselves every year by cleaning their own gutters. Every homeowner should consider installing gutter guards. While no solution is completely maintenance free, gutter guards can bring peace of mind and help avoid many of the issues (including basement flooding) that we are contacted to fix. Gutter guards are available at your favorite neighborhood hardware store. For an estimate by our professionals, contact us here.
5. Safe, Sealed & Secured
Seal any exterior holes that have been made in your house. This will stop bugs, mice and water from entering. These entrances, small or large, can include electrical and natural gas lines, outside faucets, A/C condenser pipes, cables, as well as kitchen, bathroom fan and clothes dryer exhaust hood vents, and venting for your large mechanicals. These areas can usually be sealed tight with the appropriate caulk. If you have questions regarding the best sealant to use, stop by your neighborhood hardware store for advice on the best products and tools to get the job done.
6. Up Your Screen Time
Now’s a great time to take down your screens, give them a good hosing down and if needed, take them to the hardware store for professional repair. If you do it now, you’ll avoid the spring rush when everyone is taking advantage of the warmer weather. If you can store your screens, you’ll enjoy unobstructed viewing of winter’s beauty. DIY screen repair and other products are available, but if you have never done it before it can be a bit tricky. If you’d like any stationary windows rescreened or a three-season enclosure installed, please schedule an estimate here.
7. Step Up to Safety
November is a month that usually sees more ladder use. Stepladders and extension ladders are used in cleaning gutters and getting the house ready for winter and seasonal decorations. But they pose a potential hazard. Why ruin your holidays by limping around in a cast? Read the instructions that came with your ladder … and be careful!
8. A Firm Foundation
Check your foundation. A secure foundation is the best defense against basement flooding and mold. Foundations are typically concrete but can be brick or stone. In most houses this can be seen as a concrete wall rising out of the ground that supports the house. First, examine your foundation from the outside by walking around the perimeter of your house. Do you see any cracks or holes in it? Look in the window wells. Are they clean and free of debris? Is there a raised drain grate on the drain pipe and is that drain pipe level with or above the ground? Look closely at your basement windows. Are there any cracks at the bottom or corners of the window? These are surprisingly common. Do you have any stairs below grade that lead into the basement? Make sure the drain at the bottom of the stairs is clear and free of debris. Is there an awning or roof above the stairs that prevents rain from falling into this area? Has there been an addition to your house? Does that area where the older and newer foundation join look sealed? What other potential trouble areas can you spot? Now go inside your basement. If your basement is unfinished, examine the entire foundation and see if you can identify any cracks, holes and/or evidence of water staining on the concrete, floors or walls. If your basement is finished, open all closets, hatches, access panels and anything else that might allow you to get a better look at your foundation. Is it wet anywhere or does it smell of mildew? Does it show the signs of ever being wet? Does it show any water stains on concrete, wood or drywall? Is there evidence of darkened wood or drywall especially on or near the floor? Are there any signs of mold or organic growth? Where does your electrical or plumbing enter the house? How do those areas look? If you would like a professional opinion, take photos and send them to us and we can suggest next steps.
9. Put Your Comfort on Autopilot
Installing automated thermostats can save you an estimated 23% of your heating and cooling costs. Apps allow you to control your HVAC from your phone when you’re not home.
10. Solutions for Staying Dry
A sump pump pumps uninvited water away from your home. Depending upon the type, sump pumps typically last 7–10 years. Most contractor-installed pumps are typically the least expensive and most apt to fail. If a pump stops working, water may fill up the pit in which it is housed and overflow into your basement causing flooding. While replacing pumps when they are past their life expectancy is a great idea, there are two essential ways to make sure your basement does not flood. One is a backup sump pump hooked up to a backup battery. These systems work well but will only last for a limited amount of time without electricity—approximately 5–7 hours of continuous pumping and 1–3 days of non-continuous pumping. The other more reliable and more expensive solution is a generator that is hooked up to your natural gas line and functions automatically as soon as power goes off. This will provide you with electricity for your sump pump as well as for essentials such as heating/cooling, refrigerator, internet, kitchen, etc. If you would like an estimate for a generator, reach out to us and we’ll get you on the schedule.