Fall and winter checklist for New Hampshire homeowners

October

• Service the boiler or furnace; replace the filter
• Clean the gutters and check that downspouts carry water away from the foundation
• Test the bath fans and confirm they vent outdoors
• Weather-strip doors and the attic hatch; close the fireplace damper
• Order oil or propane before the first cold snap; keep the delivery slips, they are your qualification numbers
• Run the NHSaves qualifier with last winter's fuel use

December to February

• Watch the eaves after a snow: icicles and ice ridges mean attic heat loss (see ice dams)
• Keep snow clear of outdoor heat pump units and dryer and furnace vents
• Note which rooms never get comfortable; that is useful information for the assessment
• Check the basement for frost on the rim joist or condensation on pipes

March to May

• Book the home energy assessment: crews are easier to schedule before the fall rush, and the work is done before next winter
• Look at the attic on a bright day: light through the eaves is good (ventilation), dark staining on the boards is not (moisture)
• Run the dehumidifier once the basement warms up
• Collect twelve months of fuel bills for the application

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