Prepare your Philadelphia home for winter by maintaining the following:
1. Heating:
Replace the filter on forced hot-air systems, have a licensed HVAC technician service your furnace, and have a licensed chimney contractor ensure there is no blockage or creosote build-up from wood stoves or fireplaces.
Keep your heat above 55 degrees so water pipes within the walls don’t freeze, rotate ceiling fans clockwise to bring warm air down, and maintain pellet and wood-burning stoves per manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Roof & gutters:
Inspect your roof and coat it roof every five years to extend it’s life. Clear leaves and debris from gutters to ensure proper drainage and prevent ice dams or cycles that can fall, and ensure gutters direct water away from walking paths and the foundation.