Winter Maintenance Tips for Your Home and Car
We need to pay extra attention to our homes and vehicles in winter in order to prevent and protect against damage from the harsh, ever-changing conditions. You can never completely prevent winter weather from causing damage to your home or vehicle, but routine maintenance goes a long way toward helping you avoid big, costly problems and having to file a home or auto insurance claim.
Winter Home Maintenance Tips
- Inspect and clean your gutters several times during fall and before winter sets in. Direct gutters and downspouts away form the foundation and away from walkways and driveways.
- Check your roof for signs of sagging or shingles that have curled. Replace any damaged or missing shingles.
- Check all window and exterior doorframes for cracks, or feel for cool air coming in. Seal any cracks with caulk, weather stripping or door sweeps. If necessary, purchase a plastic sheeting kit and place plastic around the windows to keep heat from escaping,
- Install a programmable thermostat if you do not already have one. Have a professional tune your furnace. Inspect heating ducts and vents, and clear away anything that may have gotten into them over the summer. Change the air filter in your furnace every three months during winter.
- Monitor your home for excessive moisture levels, such as condensation on your windows. This can cause damage and even health risks if left unattended.
- Check your roof regularly for ice dams or icicles.
- Check electrical cords, plugs and outlets and all seasonal lights for wear. If worn, or if plugs or cords feel warm to the touch, replace them immediately.
- Clean your humidifier two or three times during the winter season.
Auto Winter Prep Tips
- Replace your wiper blades at least once a year. You will probably use your wipers more in fall and winter, so now is a good time to change them before road dirt and wiper fluid take their toll.
- Check your spare tire to make sure that it is properly inflated to the pressure listed on the side of the tire. The AAA states that tire pressure drops one pound per square inch for every 10-degree drop in temperature. You should check your tire pressure weekly in cold weather.
- Replace your washer fluid with a cold-weather formula. Also, check your antifreeze and brake fluid levels.
- Dirty air filters decrease engine performance and emissions quality. Replace your engine air filters at least two times per year.
- Electrical issues and ignition problems can be caused by loose or corroded battery connections. Clean your battery connections if you notice corrosion. In addition, make sure that all of your vehicle’s lights are working, and replace any bulbs if necessary.
Do you have any other home or auto maintenance tips that you swear by? Do you pay extra attention to your home and car in the winter, to prevent damage and costly repairs?
If you have any questions about your home or auto policies, call Clark-Mortenson today at 877-352-2121, or e-mail beready@clark-mortenson.com.
