by Katie Dunkle, Client Coordinator

To Keep your home in tip-top shape throughout the winter, consider these home maintenance tips:

Furnace:

• professional HVAC inspection
• stock up on filters
• consider switching to a programmable thermostat for energy efficiency

Fireplace:

• Cap or screen the top of the chimney to prevent birds or rodents from moving in.
• Call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote build up (which can cause a fire).
• Buy or chop wood and store in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.
• Inspect damper and make sure it’s functioning properly.

Exterior Doors|Windows:

• Inspect for crevice cracks and seal them.
• Use weather stripping around doors and caulk windows to prevent cold air from entering.
• Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation

Roof|Gutters|Downspouts:

• Add extra insulation to the attic to prevent warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams.
• Replace worn shingles/tiles.
• Clean out and clear debris from gutters and downspouts.
• Think about installing leaf guards on the gutters to direct water away from the house.

Foundation:

• Rake away all debris and vegetation from the foundation.
• Seal up any entry points to keep small animals from moving in.
• Secure crawl space entrances.

Smoke|Carbon Monoxide Detectors:

• Buy extra batteries and change them when daylight savings time ends.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and/or water heater.
• Test detectors to make sure they work.
• Replace fire extinguisher if over 10 years old.

Plumbing:

• Locate water main shut off.
• Drain all garden hoses.
• Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
• Drain air conditioner pipes.
• If you go on vacation, leave heat set to at least 55 degrees.

Landscape:

• Trim trees and branches that hang too close to the house or electrical wires

By taking care of these maintenance steps now, while the weather is fairly pleasant, you will appreciate come winter!

Contact an Exclusive Buyer Agent REALTOR at Buyers Advantage Group Realty, one who can help guide you through the process and take the stress out of homebuying.

Please visit our main site while you're here.

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to sign up for our RSS Feed! Got an RSS Reader? Grab this: http://buyersadvantagegroup.net/blog/feed You can also share this post using the “share this” button below.

Share This

Tags: General Category //