Fall Home Maintenance Tips

As the temperature drops and the season changes from summer to fall, homeowners have a new batch of chores and challenges to face. Here are a few things you can do now to get ready for winter. 

• It is a great time to tidy up the yard and clean out your gutters before winter comes. Put your raked leaves and other yard waste in a compost bin and keep these materials out of landfills.

• Be prepared. Find out if maintenance is required to keep your heating system operating efficiently and schedule a service call before the busy season starts. Our licensed technicians would be happy to service your furnace. Click here to learn more on our website and contact us today. 

• Keep out drafts by sealing leaky windows. You can use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months.

• Fall is the best time to clean the chimney and get vent systems checked. Pipes must be properly connected and there should be no signs of rust or damage.

• If you have a window air conditioner unit, it is time to remove it for the winter. If the AC must stay in place, seal it with caulking or tape and cover with an airtight insulated jacket.

• Winterize your home by caulking and weather-stripping all doors and windows. Check caulking around windows and do touch ups to reduce drafts and conserve energy. If you have questions about how to do this properly, check back here next week for our next post on how to install weather-stripping and caulking.

Happy fall to all of our customers and readers! Enjoy this beautiful season!

Tips to Keep Your Furnace Healthy

It has been a tough winter. The last thing you want now after surviving ice storms and heavy snow is a furnace breakdown. How can you help prevent the expense and inconvenience of a broken furnace and a freezing home? Read on for our tips on keeping your furnace healthy, and your home warm and cozy.

• Change your furnace filter at least 4 times a year. Even if it looks clean, it is still recommended to change the filter. Often furnaces break down because the filter has not been changed and it is clogged with dirt. This restricts the airflow and put your furnace fans and motors under stress. Changing the filter is a cheap and easy way to keep your furnace healthy. 
• Have an annual maintenance checkup and ensure your furnace is serviced once a year. The blower and the motor should be checked by a professional. 
• Consider signing up for a heating protection plan. National Home Services heating protection plan offers unlimited service calls and same day service. That way, if your furnace breaks down, you can get it fixed right away without an unexpected expensive repair bill. The repair cost is covered by your monthly protection plan fee. 
• Call an expert when your furnace malfunctions. Don't try to fix it yourself. In Ontario, you want to ensure your technician is licensed to work on your type of equipment, whether it is electric or natural gas powered. 
• If you have done any renovations, have your air ducts cleaned to remove dirt and dust. 

Bonus tip: To protect your home and family, test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working properly. Replace the batteries as needed and make sure you have one of each detector on every floor in your home.