As the temperatures start to dip, the leaves fly and we all get ready for colder weather, there are some essential to-dos all homeowners should be aware of. It’s time to tune up your home before winter; focus on these simple weekend projects to help ensure your home stands up to the season and weathers the coldest months of the year in tip-top shape.
Check Your Fireplace
Proper inspection of a fireplace is vital—even if it is rarely used—to ensure your home is safe throughout the winter. An experienced chimney sweep will check wood-burning fireplaces for flammable buildup (known as creosote) and chimney blockages such as bird nests. A chimney or fireplace professional should also check for these red flags: improperly functioning dampers, damaged brickwork and masonry, and missing or damaged flue caps (the screen covering the top of the chimney).