Tag Archives: winterize

Winterize Your Home!

Fall is the perfect time of year to winterize your home, or perform maintenance that will keep your home in the best shape to get through the colder winter months and save on heating costs. Here are some helpful tips.

Starting on the outside, check the condition of your roof, gutters and downspouts. Clean out the gutters and install leaf guards if not already in place. Use a hose to spray water into the downspouts to remove any debris. Check the flashing and replace any loose or worn shingles or tiles to insure water cannot enter your house. If you have fireplaces, be sure to cap or screen the top of the chimneys to keep animals out. Hire a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote from the chimneys. Inspect the dampers for proper opening and closing. And, don’t forget to stock up on firewood!

Next, inspect your foundation and seal up any cracks or holes. Secure crawlspace entrances. Clear all leaves and debris away from the foundation. Insulate any exposed plumbing pipes to prevent freezing. Check all exterior doors and windows for tight seals. Seal/caulk any cracks and replace any cracked or broken window glass. Switch out summer screens with the glass replacements. If you have older model windows, consider covering them with plastic to keep warm air inside and cold air out. Install weather stripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering your home. If you have ceiling fans in your home, now is the time to change the rotation direction: counter-clockwise rotation produces cooling breezes and clockwise rotation produces warmer air.

Finally, if you have central heat and air, get your furnace and ducts inspected and cleaned by an HVAC professional. Remove any flammable materials from the area surrounding your furnace. Be sure to change your furnace filters each month. Purchase smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries and change them out when daylight savings time ends on November 1. If you don’t have these detectors, purchase, install and test them to assure your family’s safety during the coming colder months.

For more tips on how to winterize your home, come by and see our experts at Action Rental and Sales at 1861 N. Eastman Road in Kingsport, TN, call us at 423-246-5181, or check us out online at actionrentalkpt.com.

Brrrr… It Is Cold Outside

Pipes

Brrr… it is cold outside! While a chill in the air can be nice,  Action Rentals reminds everyone that too much cold can damage your home if precautions aren’t in place. Cold weather can cause the pipes in your walls, attic, under the floor, or in unheated parts of your home to freeze. As water freezes, it expands and this added pressure can cause pipes to burst or crack, leading to expensive repairs. Fortunately, there are preventative measures you can take to greatly reduce your risk of frozen pipes, thus keeping your plumbing lines thawed and in good working condition.

  1. To help protect the pipes in your exterior walls, you can simply open the cabinet doors at the sinks that are served by the exterior wall pipes. This will allow the heated interior air to warm and help protect the pipes. You can also place a portable heater a safe distance from the wall and any other combustible material to aid in this process. Always follow manufacturer guidelines for heater placement.
  1. Running water can also help keep your pipes from freezing. It’s easier for standing water to freeze, so by keeping a small trickle of water running you’re your faucet, you help prevent your pipes from freezing. When you run your water, run both the hot and cold water. This warmer water also keeps your pipes warmer and helps to keep them thawed. Also try and run the water from the far end of the house. This helps to protect the main water lines.
  1. For longer lasting solutions, consider using expanding insulating foam to fill any voids in the interior walls. Carefully follow the instructions provided when you purchase this foam. Make sure you calculate the approximate volume of space between the studs to keep from using too little or too much foam. If overused, expanding foam can bow or crack drywall.
  1. Utilize insulating material, such as the molded foam pipe wraps, to place around any exposed pipes in your attic, basement, crawl space or other unheated areas.

As always, before you start any home improvement or preventive maintenance project, carefully review all safety information provided with your purchases. Take careful steps to properly shut down any equipment that may be damaged due to shutting off water supplies. If you need any equipment for this or other home maintenance jobs remember to contact Action Rentals Renting– the smart way to get things done!

Come see the experts at Action Rental & Sales in Kingsport, Tennessee. Stop by our showroom at 1861 Eastman Road, visit our website or call us at 423-246-5181.

How to Winterize your House

Although it might not feel cold outside, now is the perfect time to start preparing their home for winter, a.k.a. winterizing. As the temperature drops, it won’t be as easy to get out and do the projects needed to help keep your home in great shape through the colder months.

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1. De-clutter gutters

Even if you don’t have trees close to your home, rain gutters are still able to collect debris and should be cleaned out before winter. By keeping gutters clean, you are helping prevent ice from building up which can cause gutters to come loose or damage to the roof. While you are cleaning the gutters, make sure to check for loose joints or any other structural problems.

2. Say No to drafts

An easy way to help winterize your home (and help with the power bill) is to find and stop drafts in your home. Start with your attic areas and access panels followed by the basement and then windows and doors. Once you find any areas that are letting air in or out, you can seal them with a good quality insulation, caulk, weather stripping or window film. One helpful hint, when caulking, make sure to remove the old caulk first.

3. Seal the drive

Snow, ice, salt and shovels can really take a toll on your driveway. If you have it sealcoated every three years, that will help to prevent costly repairs or replacement down the road. In addition to not only looking nicer and protecting the asphalt, the darker color will also help to melt snow more quickly in the winter.

4. Trim the trees

Winter weather can mean ice, snow, cold windy days and more. All of these contribute to breaking limbs off of trees and potentially causing home and property damage. First start looking for obvious problems, such as limbs hanging over wires, the driveway and most importantly the house.

5. Chimney check

Thinking about having the fireplace cleaned and serviced when you are still using your air conditioner is tough, but it is one of the most important winterizing projects possible. By keeping your fireplace cleaned and properly maintained you not only increase its heating efficiency, but you also ensure your family’s safety during the winter months.

For more winterizing tips, come see the experts at Action Rental & Sales in Kingsport, Tennessee. Stop by our showroom at 1861 Eastman Road, visit our website or call us at 423-246-5181.