A 10 “Prep your home for fall and winter" tips

1. Disconnect all garden / garage hoses from their faucets and shut off all the faucets’ inside valves (usually located in the basement).

b. Remember to keep the outside faucets open during wintertime.

2. Replace the furnace filter, if you haven't already.

3. Humidifier maintenance: If you have both central A/C and humidifier, open the humidifier damper and clean or replace the filter. Humidifiers need regular maintenance.

Important: The humidifier damper should stay closed during summertime so that conditioned air will not be drawn back to the humidifier and cause ice build-up.

4. Wood fire places should be inspected by a WETT (Wood Energy Technology Transfer) certified person and cleaned before use. As for gas fireplaces, you may want to prepare by lighting the pilot light and see that it is in working condition. Remember that if you want to clean the fireplace's glass, use a specific cleanser for it, any other cleaning agent may cause stains on the glass and damage its appearance.

5. Clean the gutters and downspouts. Make sure they are intact, connected and extended at least 6 feet away from the foundation to prevent any water damage to structure and foundation.

6. Check that exterior caulking is intact and, as needed, add weather strips to doors and windows.

7. Remove all window screens to help maximize air flow around windows and minimize condensation.

8. Check that all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in good working condition.

9. Turn off the breaker of the air conditioning on the electrical panel during wintertime, as it will still consume electricity when left turned on. Another important reason for switching the breaker off is to prevent accidental activation of the A/C that is potentially damaging for the A/C.

10. Have a professional roofer remove snow from roof if it appears to be excessive. Don't do it yourself, as you might damage the shingles, and are risking your safety. 

GFCI’s what they are and why and where they should be installed

Now that summer is here, I would like to explain the importance of GFCI’s, what they are and why and where they should be installed.

GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt. It is an electrical device that could be installed as an outlet, a breaker or as a power bar.  GFCI is a mechanical device that is installed to protect us from getting an electrical shock in the event of a possible contact with water and or difference in the current supply - in both cases the GFCI should trip and will stop the current from flowing. As it is a mechanical device, it is highly recommended to test it on a regular basis according to the manufacturer specifications. In most cases the recommended time is once a month. 

Similar to the outlet option, other versions could be installed as a GFCI breaker which is installed in the electrical panel and or as GFCI power bar. The way to test them is to press the reset button and verify that the device trips. If it does not trip, it is time to check or replace the device by a licensed electrician. GFCI are not expansive and they are considered a safety issue. The recommended locations for installing a GFCI are all outside outlets especially near swimming pools and hot tubs, all bathrooms and kitchen counters. If a circuit has an open ground it is also recommended to use a GFCI power bar as a protective measure.

Stay safe, protect yourself and your family this summer when in and around water.

Enjoy summer!

Your Air Conditioning and Humidifier 

As we are starting to use our AC this season, here are a few things to remember: 

1. If you turned off your AC breaker in the electrical panel during the winter, this is the time to turn it back on, at least 24 hours prior

of use.

2. Remove any covers such as plywood, plastic or fabric covers from the AC unit.

3. Remember to level your AC unit. With time, the surface that the unit sits on may have settled. Leveling the unit is important for efficient function of the AC and for a long service life.

4. Do you have a central humidifier installed? If you do, remember that come spring it’s time to turn it off and maintain/prepare it for next winter when it’s time to use it again. In the spring/summer we don’t desire the extra humidity that a central humidifier gives us. We need to dehumidify the extra humidity we already have in the air by using A/C or dehumidifier. That’s why we need to turn off the central humidifier if installed, clean the filter inside and turn the flap to the summer position (usually marked on the device).

Stay Cool