Ten Home Maintenance Tips to Get You Ready for Spring!
After a long winter of being shut in your home it's time to get out and inspect the damage the fall and winter have caused. As the days begin to get longer and sun shines brighter there are many things to maintain before they get out of hand. "Dwight Barnett, a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors, shared this checklist to help you target the areas that need maintenance so you can get your chores done quickly." From HGTV.com.
Dwight Barnett's ten items to check this Spring:
- Check for loose or leafy gutters. Gutters that are backed up with
leaves can cause water to rot the gutter board and enter the house. Loose gutters can not properly flush water away from the foundation leading to more problems with water entering the basement.
- Check to make sure the grading around you home continues to push water away from the foundation. Any low areas should be filled with additional soil to prevent further water damage to the foundation.
- Check windows around your home. Look for holes in caulking, check any wood around the windows for signs of rot. Being pro-active and replacing them now will save a fortune in repairs down the road. Water getting in the home from windows can cause extensive rot damage to framing and even enable termites to begin infesting your home.
- Examine the roof from the ground, any buckled or loose shingles need to be replaced. The summer heat causes most of the damage to your roof, so be sure to have a qualified roofer thouroughly inspect your roof if you feel it needs a closer look.
- Examine the exterior of the chimney for signs of damage.
Depending on usage you might need to have the flue cleaned on a yearly basis, but it should be inspected by a certified chimney sweep.
- Inspect concrete slabs for signs of movement. Winter weather can be rough on concrete, with freezing and thawing the sub-grade can "heave" pushing the concrete up and creating cracks in the slab. Cracks in the slab need to be filled and to extend the life of your concrete apply a sealer in the fall to guard against the salt used to melt snow and ice.
- Remove firewood stored near the home. Firewood stored up against the home can attract termites and create a whole list of additional problems.
- Before winter set in you should have disconnected you hoses from the exterior faucets. If not and for good measure, check to make sure that your hose faucets have not frozen over the winter. Not checking and running your hose will result in water damage to your home. Most faucets are made to drain remaining water out of the back of the faucet to prevent freezing, but it is always good practice to remove hoses before winter starts.
- Having an annual service contract with a local HVAC company can save thousands of dollars in repairs. Having them come out after each change in seasons and check and clean the heating and cooling system will ensure that it is running efficiently.
- Check your lawn equipment to make sure it is ready for summer
use. Many gas-powered tool manufacturers are asking customers to remove the gas from various lawn power tools through the winter. The reason behind this is the fact that gas has the ability to "pull" water from the humidity in the air. This water and gas mixture can cause extreme damage to the motor of the lawn equuipment.
Keeping an eye on these items every spring will keep your home healthy, free of major problems and operating efficently.
Should you have any questions about finding qualified contractors to preform inspections or want a builders professional opinion contact Kevin Dalton at 859-621-8502 or find us online at Dalton Built Homes.