With the arrival of fall, can winter be far behind?*
And with so many new homeowners in Westport — many of them former New York apartment dwellers — there is a lot to learn about property maintenance.
SCA Crowley — longtime Fairfield County residential and commercial property managers — know everything about preparing a home for cold weather.
Here — courtesy of vice president Maxxwell Crowley — are some of the most important tips.
NOTE: You don’t have to be a new homeowner to read these. Everyone can learn something from them.
√ Make sure your irrigation system is winterized.
√ Schedule your plumber to turn off all exterior spigots, as well as any water lines that are exposed or on walls with no insulation (a garage, for example).
√ When temperatures drop into the teens and there’s high wind chill, SCA Crowley recommends keeping faucets on a drip to ensure pipes do not freeze — especially in older homes with poor insulation,
√ Once all the leaves have fallen, make sure to clean your gutters. This is a tedious, dangerous task so consider hiring it out to a professional. If you do it yourself, make sure someone is below you to support the ladder. This should be performed at least 3 times a year, to avoid clogging and potential leaks into your home.
Gutter cleaning.
√ Contact your local HVAC technician to service your system as you transition from air conditioning to heat. Keep all rooms at a warm set point (68-72 degrees). If areas of the home (like a basement) do not have heat, consider insulating those areas or hooking up a space heater for cold snaps. This is especially important if the basement has waterlines.
√ Contact your landscaper to do a fall clean-up of the property: removing leaves, pruning shrubs, and prepping the lawn for the winter ahead. This might not sound important, but it is critical — especially if you want your garden and lawn to grow back healthy next season.
Fall lawn care pays dividends in the spring.
√ If you have a pool, make sure to contact your contractor to empty and winterize it.
√ If you have time clocks for exterior lighting, adjust the on/off times. It will get darker earlier.
√ If your property is on septic, make sure to clean your tank before it gets too cold and the ground freezes, if your clean-out is not already exposed above ground. Cleaning a septic tank should be a routine item all homeowners do annually or semi-annually, depending on use and size of the home.
√ If you move to a warmer state during winter and your home will not be occupied, consider hiring a property manager or trusted friend to keep an eye on your home. No matter how new the house is, issues can arise. Having someone available will help — and help your piece of mind.
A property manager or friend can prevent headaches.
√ One item not as critical, but important: Make sure to store or protect patio furniture, to ensure it stays in good condition. Consider sending your patio cushions and umbrella canopies for winter cleaning and storage. This helps maintain the life of your outdoor living investment, and ensures they are clean next spring.
*No.
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Storing outdoor furniture.