As cold weather approaches, it is important to take a few preventative measures to protect your home through the chilly months. Here is a checklist to help you prepare:

• Check the attic and walls for adequate insulation.
   
• Feel around electrical outlets and switch-plates for cold air. Add insulation where necessary.
   
• Look around doors and windows for gaps and potential places where warm air can escape.
   
• Caulk or apply weather-stripping around problem draft areas.
   
• Consider replacing windows with energy efficient double-paned windows.
   
• Clean gutters and downspouts in mid-fall and double-check them before winter.
   
• Have a contractor look for damaged roof shingles and loose gutters.
   
• Replace the filter in your furnace.
   
• Have a heating/cooling expert look at your furnace if you are unsure of its efficiency.
   
• Have chimneys and woodstoves cleaned early in the season.
   
• Test the flue in each fireplace for a tight seal when closed.
   
• Close any vents in your home that may have been opened for the warm weather.
   
• Make sure that downspouts are connected and that the water is directed away from the foundation.
   

sherry@sherrybenninger.com

The GRUBB Co., 1960 Mountain Blvd., Oakland, CA 94611

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