The colorful leaves announce the arrival of fall in Lincoln. This will be her first without her husband. For 32 years he always saw to it that their home was ready for our cold Nebraska winters. But now it will be up to her.
Fortunately, James had been a firm believer in the old proverb; “Poor handwriting is better than a good memory”. He kept a list of things to do and people to call before it got cold. In the later years, as a senior citizen most of the tasks were done by trusted professionals.
Winterizing is simply being sure you are ready for the cold weather. The top priority is to ensure that your heat source is safe, and in good operating condition. A professional inspection and service by a licensed contractor for a typical furnace may run $150-$300. Although this is an out-of-pocket expense, routine maintenance is less expensive than an emergency service call in the dead of winter. Many Heating and Air Conditioning companies offer annual contracts to service the furnace and air conditioning both in the spring and the fall.
Draining the sprinkler system can be a homeowner friendly task. But if not done properly, frozen pipes can leave your system damaged resulting in a large repair bill. Like the furnace, a professional sprinkler contractor can schedule winterization in the fall and the spring recharge. They automatically schedule the maintenance. Which comes in real handy, especially if your handwriting is better than your memory.
And don’t forget about the snow and ice removal. Slick sidewalks and driveways can be particularly hazardous to seniors. If no one in the household is willing or able to handle this physically demanding task it may be time to hire a reliable service.
Obviously, there are expenses connected with winterizing. Deferring or skipping the preventative maintenance may very likely end up costing more down the road. If finances are challenging, check with your local senior service providers for possible assistance. And be sure to use only trusted professional contractors. Get references. Lincoln Seniors Resources may be a good source for potential service providers.
