| By :
Stewart Wrighter
Harsh winters are sometimes as hard on your home as they are on your body and spirit. While you are bundling up and trudging off to work in day in the snow and cold, your home is stuck outdoors and even your indoor appliances may find themselves taxed. This is especially true for the appliances you rely on more throughout the winter months. It is for this reason you should take the time and invest the money in having these appliances looked over before the dead of winter arrives. If you are confident things are in good working order, it will be easier for both you and your home to face even the harshest of winters. Begin by having someone services your hot water heater. This ensures you will be able to warm up with hot showers all winter long. They can also look over your septic systems because the last thing you want is to have to clean out your in-ground tank during the dead of winter. Possibly, the most important appliance to have inspected before winter is your furnace. You may use it minimally throughout the rest of the year and you will really cut back during the spring and fall. However, when winter arrives, you will fire it up and it may be running non-stop until the first signs of spring. It is a good idea to have everything in good working order and your furnace is up to the task of making it through another winter. Furnace problems can be expensive and they are especially serious if you are relying on the furnace to heat your home, so be sure things are safe and ready to go long before you need it. If you heat your home with an alternative source of energy in addition to or instead of the furnace, have this serviced before winter as well. Cleaning your fireplace and chimney is an important safety tip in burning safely in your home. The same is true if you have a pellet stove or wood burning stove. Be sure these sources of heat are clean and safe before using them throughout the winter. Also stock up on your fuel supply in advance to avoid the rising prices throughout the season and to avoid having to run to the store in the middle of the night when you run low. Regardless of whether you use an alternative source of heating, make sure your carbon monoxide and fire alarms are in good condition. Most home specialists recommend checking these batteries when the time change occurs in the spring and fall. This is a great idea because it gives you time to stock up on batteries or replace the device altogether before the winter sets in. You may also want to review your family's emergency fire plans with everyone at this time, just to make sure everyone is prepared for the worst case scenario. Finally, update the insulation in your home. If you have pipes that are exposed to cold air, make sure they are kept warm during the temperature drop of the season. This prevents freezing and possible flooding as a result of a busted frozen pipe.
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