Winter Maintenance Projects to do During the Summer

Say what? Yes, summertime is supposed to be for fishing and yard work and back yard BBQ's. But it should also be a time when you start planning and getting started on winterizing your home. Remember that draft you felt in December and declared it was to cold to go outside and check out the windows? Summer is the perfect time to check out all of your windows. If you have wood framed windows, remove all of your storm windows. Scrape and paint all of the wood casings and the trim around the windows. Caulk any necessary places. Clean the windows inside and out and replace the storm window framing, adding caulk or weather stripping where you need it.

Check around your entire foundation. Repair any cracks and give it a fresh coat of paint or sealer if it's needed. This might sound like summer maintenance, but in fact it will help keep the cold out if you live in an area that has harsh winters. You'll be glad that you did it in the summer sunshine instead of waiting until a freezing cold night, only to find that you have to take drastic measures to keep your house warm.

Have your furnace gone over by a qualified heating and air conditioning service. Ask them to test all of its components and replace any that might be getting weak. Again, this is a lot wiser than waking up on a bitter cold night to find your house cold and your furnace quiet. This is also a good time to have your duct work cleaned as well.

If you rely on a wood stove or fireplace for supplemental heat, start stockpiling wood now, especially if you cut it yourself. It is a lot easier to cut wood occasionally all summer long than it is to have to struggle in the cold because your wood is running frighteningly low. Many people put this chore off, then find there self plunging through snow to cut their wood. Don't ever think it's too early to worry about it, because it'll soon be too late!

Check all of your windows inside the house as well. If you have trim boards around them, you may want to apply a thin strip of caulking there as well. Do you recall drafts coming in around your front or back doors? If so apply new weather stripping, and purchase a new storm door, if your budget allows it.