The Weather is Getting Cooler...
The mornings are getting crisper, the trees are changing colors, and the one I seem most affected by: losing daylight. We all have our favorite season or seasons of the year, and as the seasons change the list of things we need to get done around the house change as well. I figured I'd take a moment to mention a few items you might not have thought about adding to your to do list. The last thing we want is to be caught off guard or cause an accident when its 12 degrees outside.
As the temperatures drop, there's nothing better than curling up next to a roaring fire in the fireplace with a nice cup of hot cocoa! When burning those fires though, make sure you are only burning dry seasoned wood. Wood is usually dry enough once it has been able to sit and dry for a year, and has then been cut and split. Wet wood burns much cooler and the byproducts of burning the wet wood can create issues in your chimney flue. And on the topic of chimney flues, it's a good idea to get it cleaned and inspected annually. Spring and summer are the ideal months since that's the off season and companies usually offer discounts, but if it hasn't been done, it should become a priority.
I can't think anything worse than a furnace going out in the middle of winter. With that in mind, make sure that you call and have your furnace checked and serviced (by a reputable company) before it gets too cold and you find out yours isn't working. While they are already at your house, it may be a good idea to have them check the furnace and flue for carbon monoxide leaks.
The last one is an easy one--make sure your snow shovel is in good working order! If it isn't, get out and buy one before they are sold out... and don't forget the ice melt. You always see footage on the news about hardware stores when there is a big snow storm coming, and they are always reporting a shortage of shovels and ice melt. While you're there don't forget to pick up a sled, you gotta have some fun out in the snow!
I hope these tips will help you some way. I am a licensed insurance agent in Kansas and Missouri so if I can help in anyway let me know. To keep the winter theme going, I do insure snowmobiles in addition to the typical auto, home, life and business policies.
Brian Chandler-Farmers Insurance Agent
1201 NW Briarcliff Pkwy #345
Kansas City, MO. 64116
816-888-4528
farmersagent.com/bchandler
bchandler@farmersagent.com
As the temperatures drop, there's nothing better than curling up next to a roaring fire in the fireplace with a nice cup of hot cocoa! When burning those fires though, make sure you are only burning dry seasoned wood. Wood is usually dry enough once it has been able to sit and dry for a year, and has then been cut and split. Wet wood burns much cooler and the byproducts of burning the wet wood can create issues in your chimney flue. And on the topic of chimney flues, it's a good idea to get it cleaned and inspected annually. Spring and summer are the ideal months since that's the off season and companies usually offer discounts, but if it hasn't been done, it should become a priority.I can't think anything worse than a furnace going out in the middle of winter. With that in mind, make sure that you call and have your furnace checked and serviced (by a reputable company) before it gets too cold and you find out yours isn't working. While they are already at your house, it may be a good idea to have them check the furnace and flue for carbon monoxide leaks.
The last one is an easy one--make sure your snow shovel is in good working order! If it isn't, get out and buy one before they are sold out... and don't forget the ice melt. You always see footage on the news about hardware stores when there is a big snow storm coming, and they are always reporting a shortage of shovels and ice melt. While you're there don't forget to pick up a sled, you gotta have some fun out in the snow!
I hope these tips will help you some way. I am a licensed insurance agent in Kansas and Missouri so if I can help in anyway let me know. To keep the winter theme going, I do insure snowmobiles in addition to the typical auto, home, life and business policies.
Brian Chandler-Farmers Insurance Agent
1201 NW Briarcliff Pkwy #345
Kansas City, MO. 64116
816-888-4528
farmersagent.com/bchandler
bchandler@farmersagent.com
