Homes require internal and external maintenance with regular cleanings and inspections to ensure everything is safe and functional. Seasonal maintenance tends to weather and usage needs, such as raking leaves and closing the pool. Appliances and utilities should be inspected and repaired for the entire life of your home. If your property has any trees, have a certified arborist inspect them, who can check for signs of disease or dead branches and detect problems before they worsen and kill a tree.
The untrained eye could miss signs of damage, and a dead or dying tree poses a danger to your safety, home, and neighboring properties. Even if you don't use the chimney regularly, the chimney still needs regular monitoring. A chimney transports hazardous gases from the fireplace, wood stove, or oven outside your home, helping to keep indoor air breathable. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, your chimney should be inspected annually and cleaned regularly based on how often you use it.
Once the leaves fall, call your gutter company to clean and inspect them. Any repairs that need to be done to gutters or downspouts must be done before winter arrives. Your workers should also inspect the roof for loose or broken shingles. Schedule work before heavy snowfall, which could leave frozen leaves and debris in gutters, faucets, and hoses.
Before the first freeze, drain and turn off the outside faucets so they don't freeze. Roll up the hoses and store them for the winter. Have Your Furnace and Ducts Serviced. A clean system will be more energy efficient and an inspection will alert you to problems.
Check and replace air filters, as needed. Test the thermostat to make sure it works properly. Make sure that the heating grilles are open and that nothing blocks them. If you didn't clean and inspect your chimney in the spring, call a chimney sweep now and do it before you start using the chimney or oven.
Clothes dryers cause 2,900 fires a year, and many fires occur in the fall and winter, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Lint is a major culprit, so an HVAC specialist who specializes in dryer vents or ducts inspects and cleans annually. You should change the rotation of ceiling fans twice a year to increase energy efficiency and reduce pressure on your heating and cooling systems.
Running a ceiling fan properly in winter can help you save up to 10% on your heating bill. When you change the direction of the fan, you change the way the air moves, heating or cooling a room more effectively. If your house has a basement sump pump, you should test it twice a year. Sump pumps typically last about 10 years and, with proper maintenance, could work even longer.
When the weather warms up, take the time to do a thorough inspection of your home's exterior foundations. Cracks in your home's foundations can reduce their value by up to 15%, and dealing with these problems as you see them will ensure less costly repairs in the future. Large cracks in foundations should be inspected and addressed by a structural engineer. Not all homes are repair, but all homes need occasional repairs and maintenance.
You'll be able to handle those jobs like a professional if you have these 50 key home-improvement skills under your belt. They will come in handy whether you're redoing the house, upgrading a room, or just trying to keep everything in top condition. Replacing a shower head is a small project with a big impact. Remove the existing shower head, and then attach thread sealing tape to the base of the shower arm before screwing in the new part.
While standing in the tub and holding a screwdriver in hand, also change the shower arm, if desired (usually sold separately). The perfect project for a beginner carpenter, a window box should be cut to the inside width of the window frame, plus 1½ inches. Fit the parts together with a simple butt joint. Screw the boards together and drill drain holes in the bottom.
Attach the window box to the window frame with screws or heavy-duty brackets to ensure your favorite flowers have a safe home. Filling gaps indoors or waterproofing the outside is simple with a caulking gun. To use a caulking gun, pull back the plunger and insert the caulking tube. Cut the plastic applicator at a 45-degree angle to reduce putty flow.
A softer touch on the trigger allows better control of the sealant. Sealing the entrance to your home can extend its lifespan and improve the exterior appeal of your home. Make sure the weather forecast is dry, then start by repairing the cracks and washing the entrance, leaving it to dry overnight. Apply inlet sealant on small patches.
Stay out of the front door for 24 hours to get your work done. Nothing says spring has arrived like freshly covered garden beds. It's expensive to hire this job, and it's something anyone with good support and time can achieve. Spread mulch evenly, 2 to 4 inches thick, and make sure to leave space around the base of trees and shrubs for good airflow.
Find an adjustable wrench and go to your gas meter. There will be a pipe that runs from the ground to the meter, with a shut-off valve approximately 6 to 8 inches above the ground. When the gas is turned on, the valve runs parallel to the pipe. Use the wrench to turn the valve 90 degrees in either direction.
Don't turn on the gas again; instead, call your gas company to make sure all appliances with pilot lights come back on safely. . .
