Home Fall Tune-Up

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Give Your Home a Fall Tune-Up

With winter soon upon us, now is a good time to perform a fall tune-up on your home.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Can Kill

To protect your family, take the following precautions:

Get your chimney, vents, furnace and other fuel-burning appliances checked by a qualified and licensed technician

Make sure compartment doors of fuel-burning appliances are closed properly

Do not block draft hood openings on your fuel-burning appliances

Close the chimney clean-out plate

Ask a qualified and licensed technician to check if your furnace room has enough ventilation capacity

Make sure the furnace room is clean, especially around furnace openings

When using your wood burning fireplace, open a window slightly

Be sure your overall building envelope "breathes" sufficiently -- your home must be ventilated

Install a certified carbon monoxide detector (It must be certified to either the CSA 6.19 or UL 2034 standard) -- read and keep the instructions

If you CO detector alarms, quickly open some windows and doors, get everyone out of the house and call 911.

Call 911 if anyone has one or more of the following symptoms: dizzy, drowsy, disoriented, headache, irritated or burning eyes, fatigue or othe flu-like symptoms

The Scarboro Heights Record V10 #11

Forced Air Furnace Fall Checklist

You should have your furnace checked annually by a licensed technician. In addition, here are some things that you can do yourself.

Read the instructions for your furnace and furnace-mounted humidifier

Turn off the furnace power switch

DO NOT tamper with door switches or any other component in the burner control compartment

Remove the service panel for the fan compartment

Vacuum dust in the fan compartment

Check the fan belt -- if it looks worn or frayed, have it replaced by a technician

If the motor has a lubrication port, apply several drops of oil as specified in the furnace or motor instructions

If an air duct seam is slightly open, seal it with furnace duct tape

Replace the air filter if it looks dirty

Clean an electronic filter according to the manufacturer's instructions

Clean the cartridge in the humidifier

Open the water valve for the humidifier

Adjust the humidifier settings appropriately (depending on the outdoor temperature)

Check the vent pipe and its brackets. Call a licensed contractor if the pipe is damaged or corroded.

Put the service panels back on and turn on the furnace

Check that the pre-purge cycle occurs for a gas furnace and then check for the flow of warm air

The Scarboro Heights Record V10 #10

Windows and Doors

It's a good idea to start with a thorough check of windows and doors. Cracks here can let in chilly drafts while letting valuable heat out. Check for drafts by holding a feather or tissue paper in the areas where there may be leaks. If the feather or tissue moves independently, a draft has been located. To solve this problem, apply caulk or weather stripping. Both materials are available under a wide variety of product names at your local hardware store.

If windows or doors are in extremely poor shape, think about replacing them with some of today's energy efficient alternatives. Also make sure there are no drafts coming in around power outlets. These should be properly insulated as well.

Basement

Conduct the same draft test on all floors of your home -- including the basement. Check for any cracks or holes in the foundation walls -- if the basement is unfinished. These should be repaired before they worsen. If the basement is unfinished and especially chilly, think about insulating it. If you're not particularly handy, you may want to hire a contractor for these types of undertakings.

Furnace

While in the basement, be sure to check the furnace. This is the "hub" of the heating system and requires regular maintenance. It should be checked annually by an expert to ensure that everything is in good working order. It's probably advisable to book a "check-up" and cleaning with the utility or fuel company before the rush. Also, be sure to move any items stored near or around your furnace before turning it on -- make sure the space around it is clean and completely free of dust and combustible materials.

Please have a safe and happy holiday season.

The Scarboro Heights Record V1 #4

Fall Garden Work Checklist

Pull out annuals and cut perennials back to ground level.

Turn over annual flower beds and vegetable gardens.

Fertilize the entire lawn.

Plant flowering bulbs.

Clean up leaves, branches and other debris.

Close indoor water valves, drain hoses and outdoor pipes.

The Scarboro Heights Record V1 #3

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