By Monte Leeper
Q.
. This winter I want to be more prepared than I was two years ago. I was stranded in my house for days. Since I can't do the work myself, I have been making a list of things to do. Can you suggest things that I should do to winterize my home? You make good suggestions and I love reading your advice, even for things I can't do.
A.
Thank you for your confidence. I am blushing as I read this. On your list, other than getting canned goods, candles, extra batteries, a working flashlight, extra blankets and a portable radio, you should also do the following:
Have your chimney cleaned, whether you have only a furnace or a fireplace as well. Have the furnace and hot-water heater checked, especially if you haven't done it in a while. Check your thermostat, and if it is automatic, make sure the back-up battery is working. Learn how to change the battery, and keep an extra around.
Make sure you have a freshly charged fire extinguisher in an accessible place. In a heavy snow emergency, you have a better chance of putting out that stove fire with baking soda, preventing it from spreading, before a hindered volunteer fire department can reach you.
Get the rain gutters cleaned of fall leaves, and flush out the down spouts, to prevent ice and snow back-up. The pond that can form at the end of your roof will develop a nasty leak under the shingles and roll right in through nail openings and down your inside walls.
Make certain your outside water spigots are turned off and the sprinkler lines have been drained. If either of these freezes, the pipes can burst, causing a frozen pond to form before the plumber arrives.
Put a sealer on your decks and patios, after power washing or a good cleaning. This is not recommended if the weather is below 45-50 degrees. The sealer will protect the decks and patios from exposure and penetration that can work into small spaces and split the materials apart. That is why you see so many potholes on our road beds. All this road work we have seen lately is due to the lack of sealing and maintenance those roads could use every fall. "An ounce of prevention..." could lower our tax burden.
Check your snow-removal equipment. Look at that old shovel and ice breaker. If they are bent or chipped severely, replace them while you can make it to the store. Check a snow blower to make sure all the bolts that can vibrate loose have been tightened, that it starts properly, and make a visit to the lawn-mower repair store for an additive that will break down the shellac that forms in the gas lines from non-use. Also check and/or change the spark plugs and oil according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
And, if you insist, make sure to restock the supply of chemical or salt pellets necessary to melt the ice on your sidewalks. I am not a big fan of this method of de-icing, because it damages concrete and landscaping, and ends up in the water- treatment plant through the drainage system. That debate will continue, but at least make sure that the container is well sealed to prevent moisture intrusion and accidental ingestion by small children. Enjoy the holidays in your winterized home. If anyone can add to this list, please write and share your suggestions.
Readers are encouraged to send
questions to: HERALD Homes, 379 Central Avenue, Lawrence, N.Y. 11559
Attn: Monte Leeper, Architect.
