The Care and Feeding of an Old House: Getting an Old House Ready for a Visit from Ol’ Man Winter
Just ask anyone who has been in Denver for awhile, and they will tell you about a September snowstorm they endured!
This month is a great month to prepare your old house for the chilly, wet and sloppy days of winter. A little work done now in the glorious weather of Indian summer is far more enjoyable than dealing with a major house problem in the grip of winter.
Here is a “To-Do List” to prepare for winter:
Windows
• From the outside, examine window frames for signs of peeling, separation or drying.
• Scrape all areas clean, paint and re-caulk.
• Take down screens, wash windows and hang storm windows. (If you are lucky enough to have storm windows, that is. Consider building some or having them built. They are far cheaper than new windows, which will have to be replaced sooner than you may think.)
• On the inside, examine frames for cracking, peeling and spider webs, which indicate areas where airflow is present.
• Clean out tracks and get rid of spider webs.
• If you have metal frames, clean the metal and dry it.
• Seal with new caulking, if necessary.
• Add weather stripping where needed.
• For a tight seal, lock windows. (This is a great security measure, as well.)
Gutters
• Clean gutters.
• Make sure downspouts are securely in place.
• Seal any leaking gutters.
• Trim any branches or vines that are scraping or invading gutters or downspouts.
Roof
• Inspect flashing around chimneys and in valleys. Re-caulk if necessary.
• Nail down any loose shingles.
Furnace/Boiler
• Call a gas contractor for an inspection.
• Put in clean filters.
• Have an extra set of filters on hand.
• Identify and label on/off switch and gas shut-off valve.
• Drain and refill boiler. Inspect radiator valves for leakage.
House Exterior
• Inspect your house from top to bottom.
• Repair cracks in the foundation or in the brick. (Brick repairs should be done by a mason that is qualified to do historic masonry. This is not a do-it-yourself project.)
• Remove any vines clinging to the house.
• Trim branches that scrape the house
• Make sure water can drain away from the house.
• Make sure all painted brick is covered. If not, touch up the paint.
Hoses and water valves
• Unscrew hoses from outside faucets.
• Store hoses in a dry area.
• Repair dripping faucets.
• Inside the house, make sure all water valves can be turned. (If they can’t, spray with WD-40 and try again. Never force a valve to turn.)
Water Main
• If it is over 60 years old, consider having it replaced now while the weather is warm and there is no emergency.
Elizabeth founded Denver’s Old House Society, has served on the board of the Colorado Preservation Inc. and the historic preservation committee of Historic Denver. She is also the proprietor of Historic Genie, where she consults clients on the preservation of their old homes. For more information, visit historicgenie.com.