August maintenance for a very cold climate
Long, hard winters: pipes, heating equipment and roof snow load drive the plan.
5 tasks this month. The median typical first freeze across the region’s counties is Sep 25 and the last is May 17; your county can differ by weeks.
August5 tasks
- This monthPress the test button on every smoke and CO alarm.
An alarm you have not heard in months may have a dead battery or sensor. NFPA recommends testing smoke alarms at least once a month.
How
Hold the test button until it sounds. Anything silent or chirping: replace the battery, or the whole alarm if it is past its date.
- This monthLook under every sink and around toilets and the water heater for drips.
Slow leaks rot cabinets and subfloors long before they show. Catching one early is a washer, not a floor.
How
Use a flashlight: feel supply lines and the shutoff valves, look for stains, warped cabinet floors or a toilet that rocks.
- This monthFill the heating oil or propane tank and check its gauge before winter.
Running out in a cold snap means no heat and, with oil, often a service call to restart the burner.
How
Check the tank gauge, schedule a fill or automatic delivery, and keep the path to the fill pipe clear.
- WatchVacuum the refrigerator condenser coils.
Dusty coils make the compressor run longer and hotter, especially in summer.
How
Unplug the fridge, remove the bottom grille (or pull it out to reach rear coils) and vacuum with a brush attachment.
- WatchSeal cracks in the driveway, walkways and steps before the freeze-thaw season.
Water in a crack freezes and widens it every winter.
How
Clean the crack and fill it with a concrete crack sealant on a dry day above 50°F.