With winter right around the corner!

It is important to make sure that your home is ready to endure the cold temperatures that are sure to come. By following these tips, you will ensure to minimize the effects winter has on your house and stay safe and warm all winter! Take it from us; there are few things worse than having something go wrong in the dead of winter, leaving you out in the cold. Here is a checklist to make sure you have everything in order:

1. Remove all garden hoses from outside hose bibs.
2. Shut off outside hose bibs with shut off valve in mechanical room.
3. Shut down and blow out water lines for any outdoor showers or foot wash showers.
4. Make sure gutters and downspouts are clear of debris.
5. Plug in and turn on any heat tape cords that you may have for septic lines or gutter downspouts.
6. Turn on air exchanger(s).
7. Make sure to set your air exchangers to low or intermittent settings so you do not over dry the interior of your home.
8. Turn on humidifiers. Refer to the table below to see how to properly set your indoor humidity settings in relation to temperatures outside.  It is very important to control your indoor humidity levels to prevent the wood from shrinking if it is too dry and condensation on windows if your home is too humid.

1. Clean or replace filters. It is always a good idea to check with your HVAC contractor for fall and spring service if you need any assistance with your heating and cooling systems. It is about to get cold, so making sure your home is ready to keep you warm with clean and fresh air is extremely important!
2. Turn on in-floor heat boilers.
3. Turn on forced air furnaces.
4. Inspect fireplaces, flues and fresh air intakes for proper operation.
5. Inspect smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for proper operation.
6. Keep all foot and vehicle traffic off septic drain field areas and sewer line areas to prevent frost from penetrating.
7. Shut off your whole house water line valve (if equipped) to prevent leaks while you are away from your home.

Nor-Son homes are built to last and with these basic home care tips, you can rest assured knowing that your home is ready to take everything that Mother Nature can throw at it. If you have any questions about your home or want to learn more about what you can do to improve your home, contact us at Nor-Son Custom Builders!