“Winter is coming” doesn’t only mean gloomy times for the Starks; it also means you must keep your ventilation and heating systems up and running. Luckily, winter home maintenance is all you need, and if you don’t know how to do it, we’re here to help!
We’ve compiled a winter home maintenance checklist for the tasks you need to do, including checking the vents and dryers. And if you don’t want to get your hands dirty, you can always get in touch with us, and we’ll do it for you!
Winter Home Maintenance: The Ultimate Checklist!
Here’s a breakdown of your tasks to keep your ventilation and heating systems operating smoothly during the winter!
1. Check Your Furnace Ducts and Filter
For efficient heating and a smooth airflow, you should make sure your furnace ducts and filter aren’t blocked. If one room gets worse airflow than the other, then you probably have a blocked duct that you need to clean. But if all rooms have bad flow, the filter is the culprit.
You should check your furnace filter every month during the winter and replace it if needed. Because of increased use, the filter can get clogged, which will make the system work more fiercely to heat your house. Over time, this will cause the system to wear and give you higher energy bills.
After checking or replacing the filter, you should test the furnace and see if it’s working normally.
3. Bleed Your Radiators
Bleeding radiators remove any added pressure as a result of air pockets, giving you more efficient operation and less expensive bills.
To begin with, turn on your heating system at the highest temperature and wait for a few minutes. Then, run your hands gently on all the radiators. If you feel any cold spots, then you’ve located the radiator that needs maintenance. Next, turn the heat off and wait until the system cools down.
Place a towel under the bleed valve to get ready for the water flow, then put your radiator key in the valve to open it. Once the valve is opened, you’ll hear a hissing sound, which indicates air is coming out of it. When that sound goes away and water starts to leak, you can close the valve and move on to the next radiator.
4. Check the Exhaust Vents of Your Furnace
One of the most important steps is to check your exhaust vents. They’re likely to get clogged by snow during winter, which can cause a buildup of carbon monoxide gas inside your house. Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer because it has no odor, so you can’t detect it unless you have a gas alarm installed in your house.
That’s why we recommend you clean any snow buildups around your vents and check them regularly during winter.
5. Examine Your Dryer Vents
People use their dryers much more extensively during the winter, and according to the National Fire Protection Association, home dryers account for more than 13,000 fires yearly.
That’s why you must check your dryer vents for any lint buildups which are highly flammable. The consequences won’t be favorable if a mere spark gets near a ball of lint inside the vent. So during your winter cleaning, take a minute to check that the vents are clear.
6. Clean Your Chimney
Chimney blockages can cause a burst of black smoke in your house, leaving you in dire need of deep cleaning, only provided by residential cleaning services. You should schedule a professional inspection of your chimney before the cold weather hits to avoid this accident.
7. Use Your Ears for a Final Trial Run
After doing all the above steps, it’s best to check that everything runs efficiently. Turn on your heating system, and wait for 10-15 minutes. Check for any weird sounds like banging or rattling because they may indicate an issue that still persists. Also, check that the house is heating up nicely.
We recommend scheduling an inspection appointment with a professional if you hear anything.
To Wrap Up
Now that you know the necessary steps of winter home maintenance, you and your family can stay safe and warm throughout the cold months. And if you’re not big on DIY projects, you can always contact us and get your house cleaned while you sit comfortably.
As our motto says, If you dream of walking into an immaculate house without taking the time or effort, TLC Cleaning is ready to help!
