Ask Gitta: Fall checkup time
Zoomer | August 1st, 2000
- If you haven’t done so already this year, have your furnace serviced by a professional. Vacuum permanent furnace filters or change disposable filters in a forced air furnace system.
- If you have a hot water heating system, bleed air out of the radiators. Also make sure the boiler is fliled to the correct water level.
- Vacuum electric baseboard heaters.
- Consider insulating your attic, basement, or other areas of potential heat loss
- After all the leaves have fallen, clean out your eavestroughs and downspouts to allow for water drainage in the spring
- Insulate any long stretches of hot water pipe that run through cold areas of your house such as a basement.
- Replace outdoor light bulbs now to avoid doing the job when it’s really cold.
- Clean the ducts of your central vacuuming system.
- Check your roof for any necessary repairs such as replacing missing shingles.
- Trim any tree branches growing close to your home or driveway so they don’t cause damage during the winter.
- Remove or cover portable air conditioners and have them serviced. Cover condenser of a basement unit and turn o the electrical breaker that controls it.