With the end of summer upon us, it’s time to look forward to fall and winter. As your family prepares for a busy holiday season and closing out the year, your home and car shouldn’t be neglected. Keeping both healthy and prepared for the colder months is important for your overall safety.
Here are two things to think about as you prepare for colder weather:
Get An Appliance Check Up
Your home appliances require regular maintenance, especially with the changing of the seasons. Hire a handyman or HVAC specialist to come to your home and run diagnostic tests on your furnace and air ducts to ensure that they are functioning well and are ready for colder weather. You’ll also want to make sure that your water heater and pipes are in good condition, as cold weather can do major damage to these systems.
Every month, test the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace them twice a year. An old battery could mean the difference between life and death in the event of a carbon monoxide leak. And if you have a wood-burning fireplace, have it cleaned and inspected by a professional before you start using it for the season.
Arrange Auto Maintenance
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), cars experience more wear and tear during the colder months and many people are unprepared. The change in seasons causes wear on your car’s tires, belts, and hoses. Weak batteries can be rendered useless by a sudden cold snap, and inadequately protected engine cooling systems can freeze, resulting in a major automobile accident.
Make sure to schedule a maintenance appointment for your car early in the season before it gets colder. Have a professional mechanic change the air filter, test the battery life, flush the cooling system and replace the wiper blades. Also, ask them to check the tire pressure and show you the proper way to test it at home. You’ll want to do it yourself every couple of weeks during the colder months.
Ensuring that the systems in both your house and car are in proper working condition will keep you safe and leave you with more time to enjoy the upcoming season.
We all want to keep our families safe during the fall and winter, but sometimes the unexpected happens. If someone in your family has experienced carbon monoxide poisoning or been injured in a car accident, please call us at 1-800-676-5295 for a free consultation. You can also contact us by sending us a message.
View other blog posts about Auto Accidents.
