There are certain home maintenance tasks that should be completed before each season to help prevent structural damage to your home. These tasks will also help to save energy & keep your home's systems running smoothly.
If you live in the Pacific Northwest preparing for the fall and winter seasons is a must. We are quickly approaching the rainy season which means it is important to take the necessary steps to prevent moisture problems before they take you by surprise.
• Check the drainage - Take a walk around your home and inspect the ground where it meets the foundation. Soil should not be touching siding and should slope away from the house.
• Clean the gutters - It’s important that the gutters are ready for the heavy rainfall they will receive from winter rains. During a heavy rainfall grab your umbrella and inspect the flow of water through the gutters to ensure there are no obstructions that need to be addressed.
• Furnace tune up - Schedule the fall appointment to get your furnace ready for winter. It is important to make sure your furnace is running smoothly and gets the proper cleaning it needs before the weather gets too cold. You don't want to be without heat when the temperature starts to drop. Also, check the filters in your furnace monthly and change them regularly. Inspect and vacuum out the floor grates and return duct, as well.
• Eliminate moss on the roof - Fall is a great time to apply moss killing granules or liquid solution to your rooftop. Be sure to use granules that are made especially for roofs, not those for lawns. Lawn granules contain iron, which will rust on your roof and make a mess. Time saving tip - apply the granules in a line along each side of the roof ridge rather than sprinkling them all over; the first big rain wets the granules and spreads the moss-killing agent uniformly over the roof.
• Check weatherstripping and caulk on doors and windows - Take a look at the areas where windows, doors, and corner trim meet the siding, and caulk gaps as needed. Open doors and inspect the condition of the weatherstripping. If there is a draft around the door or the weatherstripping is crumbling, replace it with new weatherstripping.
• Disconnect hoses and winterize your lawn irrigation system - Disconnecting the houses and using faucet covers (which can be found at your local hardware store) will help keep water from freezing in the pipes. Also, make sure the water is drained out of your lawn irrigation system before the first freeze.
• Take a flashlight and head on down to your crawl space in January - Checking for moisture and drainage problems under your home is very important. The summer months can often be dry and standing water typically doesn’t show up in a crawl space until it the soil has been fully re-saturated. If you find standing water, try to locate the source. Is it coming from leaking pipes or are there cracks in the foundation causing water to seep through? For advice on fixing the problem, consult a professional.
For more tips and ideas on how to get your home ready for the seasons to come visit http://www.houselogic.com/articles/fall-winter-seasonal-maintenance-guide-northwest/
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