Thursday, November 8, 2007
I Learned the Hard Way!
Dear Sue
I came from the Midwest where it is freezing by October. Last fall while it was icy back home, I looked at Auburn property in my convertible. I found a home I really liked and bought it.
Shortly after moving my realtor suggested that I winterize my new home. She even gave me a checklist. I laughed. I am sorry to say that I was fooled by the California convertible weather that I experienced all the way through November. I couldn’t believe that it would ever freeze here.
As a result of my foolishness, I failed to prepare. I didn’t wrap any of the pipes coming into my house. I left my wellhead exposed to the elements. I didn’t drain my pressurized irrigation system.
I spent thousands in repairing burst pipes, cracked pumps and lived without a water supply for a week.
All you newcomers to Auburn take heed!
Take winterizing seriously!
Don’t do what I did!
Midwest Mike
Dear Mike
Thank you for your timely letter. I have been enjoying my convertible the past two weeks. It is easy to be fooled by our balmy fall weather!
Here is a list to help you to minimize “winter damage”
1) Clean gutters and downspouts
2) Take care of misalignments and seal leaks in your gutter system
3) Clean the chimney
4) Make sure you have an ample supply of dry firewood and kindling
5) Cut any overhanging limbs that may be near the chimney
6) Make sure you have a spark arrester
7) Inspect your roof and blow off any debris, especially in the valleys
8) Inspect your roof for loose and missing shingles and weathered flashing
9) Wrap all exposed pipes from the source at the street or well
10) Drain pressurized irrigation lines (they will burst when frozen)
11) Service heating systems, change filters and test air ducts
12) Replace damaged and missing weather stripping
13) Test the batteries in your smoke detectors
14) Check for proper drainage in your yard
15) If you live in a flood area make sure you have an ample supply of sand bags. (People don’t often think about sand bags around here. When I was growing up in Manteca it was necessary because sometimes the Delta overflowed.) This area has irrigation canals and creeks.
If any readers have additional winterizing ideas they would like to share, email them and I will add them to the list, or post them on the homedollarsandsense.com blog. It is a matter of Good Home Dollars and Sense!
I came from the Midwest where it is freezing by October. Last fall while it was icy back home, I looked at Auburn property in my convertible. I found a home I really liked and bought it.
Shortly after moving my realtor suggested that I winterize my new home. She even gave me a checklist. I laughed. I am sorry to say that I was fooled by the California convertible weather that I experienced all the way through November. I couldn’t believe that it would ever freeze here.
As a result of my foolishness, I failed to prepare. I didn’t wrap any of the pipes coming into my house. I left my wellhead exposed to the elements. I didn’t drain my pressurized irrigation system.
I spent thousands in repairing burst pipes, cracked pumps and lived without a water supply for a week.
All you newcomers to Auburn take heed!
Take winterizing seriously!
Don’t do what I did!
Midwest Mike
Dear Mike
Thank you for your timely letter. I have been enjoying my convertible the past two weeks. It is easy to be fooled by our balmy fall weather!
Here is a list to help you to minimize “winter damage”
1) Clean gutters and downspouts
2) Take care of misalignments and seal leaks in your gutter system
3) Clean the chimney
4) Make sure you have an ample supply of dry firewood and kindling
5) Cut any overhanging limbs that may be near the chimney
6) Make sure you have a spark arrester
7) Inspect your roof and blow off any debris, especially in the valleys
8) Inspect your roof for loose and missing shingles and weathered flashing
9) Wrap all exposed pipes from the source at the street or well
10) Drain pressurized irrigation lines (they will burst when frozen)
11) Service heating systems, change filters and test air ducts
12) Replace damaged and missing weather stripping
13) Test the batteries in your smoke detectors
14) Check for proper drainage in your yard
15) If you live in a flood area make sure you have an ample supply of sand bags. (People don’t often think about sand bags around here. When I was growing up in Manteca it was necessary because sometimes the Delta overflowed.) This area has irrigation canals and creeks.
If any readers have additional winterizing ideas they would like to share, email them and I will add them to the list, or post them on the homedollarsandsense.com blog. It is a matter of Good Home Dollars and Sense!
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