Home Maintenance Tips

Home Maintenance Tips: Getting ready for winter is easy as 1-2-3!

By Contributing Columnist Russell Truluck:

There are many things we can do to prepare our houses for winter, so I have created a short list below to help get you started.

Here is my 1-2-3 quick list for getting ready for winter:

Outside:

1. Check and clean your gutters/down spouts. Back-ups in your gutters can cause water damage to the fascia boards, soffits, roof decking, and even walls.

2. Check your roof for debris and obstructions. Leaves/debris in roof valleys can cause water to back up and leaking to occur.

3. Install your storm windows and/or replace the screens with the glass panes. This will help save on energy loss.

Attic:

1. Check for any new water stains to the roof framing. Look real good around the chimney and roof penetrations for staining. Many times, you can catch a leak before it causes any damage by regularly inspecting your attic.

2. Cover/insulate your whole house fan. This will help save on energy loss.

3. Check plumbing supply pipes in your attic to make sure they are insulated. If not, I recommend insulating them to protect from freezing.

Crawl Space:

1. Check for fallen or missing floor insulation. Replace any fallen/missing insulation. This will help save on energy loss.

2. Check for signs of water intrusion inside the crawl space (from outside rain or plumbing pipes). Water intrusion can lead to costly repairs and increased damage if not corrected. If signs are present, I recommend further investigation and correction by a qualified licensed contractor.

3. Inspect your duct work for loose connections, leaks, and missing insulation. This will help save on energy loss.

Heating Unit:

1. Turn on your heat and test it before you need it. The heating side has been shut down for several months, so just because it was working last winter, does not mean it will be still working this winter.

2. Check you gas/propane tank levels. I recommend ordering what you need now, before you need it.

3. Have the unit serviced by a quailed licensed professional. This can help your unit run more efficiently and can identify any issue before it becomes big.

Fireplace:

1. Have a qualified professional chimney sweep insect and clean your fireplace and chimney before use. Birds, squirrels, and even raccoons are famous for building nests and adding debris to chimneys. When chimneys are not checked for obstructions, homes can catch on fire.

2. Check for limbs above the chimney. This is a fire hazard. Trim back any limbs near the top of the chimney.

3. Turn on and test your gas logs. If it has not been turned on for awhile, the gas line may have air in it and will need bleeding out. Regardless of the type of fireplace owned (wood burning, gas, freestanding, etc.), it is a good idea to have it inspected once a year by a professional. Generally, a professional will check the fan, pilots, burners, ignition, combustion, venting, and chimney draw.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors:

1. Check your safety alarms (detectors) at each location. Change battery or detector as needed.

2. Current code for smoke detectors in new homes require smoke detectors in every bedroom. On floors without bedrooms, smoke alarms should be installed in or near living areas, such as family rooms and living rooms.

3. It is recommended that a carbon monoxide detector be installed whenever a gas, wood, oil, or other combustible gas/liquid/material is being used in the home. Need to install a carbon monoxide detector according to the manufacturer's instructions on each level.

Some of these items above may require having a quailed professional check and/or correct. Do not attempt to check or correct any of the items mentioned above unless you know what you are doing. You could hurt yourself and/or cause damage.

This is not a complete list of all the items you should check prior to winter, but is a good list to get you started.

Houses are subjected to destructive forces on a continuous basis. Finding small problems and having repairs made in a timely manner can save you thousands of dollars in major repairs and replacements.

Preventative maintenance can reduce your home’s consumption of energy, extend life expectancy of the major components, and lower your cost for repairs.

Yearly maintenance inspections are a smart way to protect your investment. Having a maintenance inspection performed by a professional home inspector can give you advance notice of problems and give you time to get several repair quotes without being rushed.