I received a flyer from www.usinspect.com today reminding me that with winter upon us there are several things the one must consider in order for their homes to survive these horrifically cold months ahead.

1. Be sure to turn off your outside water supply to avoid frozen pipes leading to outside. Best to turn the water off inside and then turn the spickot on to release any remaining water in the line. Cracked pipes from frozen water expanding can be a costly repair for homeowners

2. Heating and cooling systems have filters; CHANGE THEM. In order for the systems to run properly they need filters in place that prevent dust and dirt from entering the insides of the unit. Filters are often good for 30-90 days.

3. Keep attic louvers and vents open all year round. Check the screens and clean accordingly. I had a bird fly and in and die inside mine and that can be a fire hazard as it was the path for heated dryer air to escape the house and was blocked by the birds carcus.

4. Keep doors and windows closed and or sealed to prevent heated air from escaping and cold air from coming in. This will ensure your electric and or gas bill stays in check and your HVAC systems dont work overtime and potentially needing replacing early.

Hopefully these hints will help you survive the winter in a cost effective easy to maintain manner.