Winter Maintenance Tips

Snowy season is upon us, so it’s time for some winter maintenance tips from your friends at Chandler Inspections! Being in the state of Michigan, we see some icy cold temps, so it’s important to be prepared before they arrive.

Winterize your outdoor faucet’s and spigots

One of the most important steps to getting your home ready for winter is turning off and winterizing outdoor spigots, faucets, sprinklers, etc. Doing so will prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting, which can cause serious damage and rack up expensive plumbing bills.

Be sure to disconnect all hoses. Store them indoors somewhere they wont be exposed to freezing temperatures, as this can reduce the longevity of your hose.

Check your spigots and faucets for leaks and drips. Leaks or drips can mean you’ve got a leaky cartridge or washer, and that can result in freezing and blocking of the spigot or pipe. Get this fixed before the temps drop.

Lastly, find where your shut off valve for exterior spigots and faucets are located. Turn them to the off position, and then turn the outdoor faucets or spigots on to let the water drain out of them. Don’t be afraid to leave them open for a few hours to let all the water out.

You can even invest in faucet covers that can keep your spigots or faucets warmer through freezing temperatures.

Inspect and clean your chimney before using

Many homeowners love the colder months as a reason to fire up their fireplaces to keep warm. Keeping your chimney maintained is key to ensuring that lighting up those fires doesn’t cause any house fires or health concerns.

Stick your head in and look up the chimney to inspect for any obstructions or pests. Chimneys can get clogged just like gutters, so the first thing to do is make sure the path from inside to out is clear. (ps, check out chimney caps if you don’t have one!)

That will reduce the likelihood of any incidents before you’re able to bring a professional out for maintenance, which we do highly recommend. While you can do some checks yourself, over time a chimney gradually will become lined with chemicals from burning wood that are flammable and can cause serious problems once build up has occurred over time.

A professional can also take a closer look at your chimney from a structural standpoint to ensure the bricks, mortar, damper, flue and crown are all in tip-top shape.

Check your radon levels

Naturally we spend more time indoors during the winter months. As such, it’s important to know whether or not you’re being exposed to radon.

Natural radon gas can be discovered in various building materials, well water, and the soil and rocks under dwellings. Homes may be exposed to it through the ground, crawl spaces, foundation cracks, floors, and walls. Once inside, it occasionally becomes trapped in your house.

If you’ve never had a radon test, be sure to reach out to us at Chandler Inspections and we’d be happy to help. Radon mitigation systems can seem intimidating, but they’ve drastically come down in price and can be installed by a professional in a way that you wont even know it’s there!

We hope some of these tips have helped you prepare your home for the winter season, even if it didn’t help you prepare for the cold…mentally!!