Planning Your Home Maintenance Schedule
You may have a lot on your plate, but that doesn't mean you can't take care of your home. You may not have time to do every little thing, but there are a few simple things you can do to keep your house in good shape.
The first step is to maintain a home maintenance schedule. To start, write down everything you want or need to do for the next month. Include any projects or tasks that need to be completed as well as recurring tasks like changing the air filter.
Winterizing Your Home: What You Need to Know
Winterizing your home is a process that ensures that your home is prepared for the cold weather. This includes making sure that your pipes are insulated and keeping your heat in check. If you want to know what you need to do this winter, then read on!
The first thing you should do is make sure all of your pipes are insulated. This can be done by wrapping them with foam or using pipe sleeves. The next step would be to make sure that the insulation around the outside of your house is in good condition and hasn't been damaged by animals or extreme weather conditions. And lastly, it’s important to make sure that there are no leaks in any of the windows or doors of the house and that there's enough heat inside the house so it doesn’t get too cold.
Here are some Winter Home Maintenance & Winterization Suggestions:
Have a heating professional check your heating system.
Protect your home from frozen pipes.
Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel is gone.
Test your emergency generator. (power outages from ice buildup downing power lines do happen in the Quad Cities Area)
Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your fireplace damper.
Remove bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor electrical fixtures.
Make sure the caulking around doors and windows is adequate to reduce heating loss.
Familiarize responsible family members with the gas main shut-off valve and other appliance valves.
Make sure all electrical holiday decorations have tight connections.
Test all AFCI and GFCI devices and outlets.
Only when it is safe to do so, occasionally check for ice-dam formation in the gutters and on the roof.
How To Prevent Ice Dams From Forming On Your Roof This Winter
Ice dams are a problem for homeowners in the wintertime. They are formed by melting snow and ice from the roof, which then refreezes on the roof's edge. This can lead to water seeping into your home and causing damage.
To prevent ice dams from forming, you need to:
- Clear away any snow and ice buildup on the roof
- Keep gutters clear of debris so that water can flow freely down them
- Install heat tape over the eaves
What You Need To Do To Keep Your House Warm This Winter
There are a lot of things you can do to keep your house warm this winter.
First, make sure that your furnace and chimney are in good shape. If you have an oil or gas furnace, keep it clean of any debris that may be blocking the airflow. If you have a wood-burning stove, make sure it has enough wood to burn for many hours.
If you live in a house with an electric furnace, make sure the filters are clean and the thermostat is set at a comfortable temperature so that your heating system doesn’t need to work too hard.
Second, insulate your home by installing storm windows and doors. You can also use foam board insulation in the walls and attic if needed. This will help keep heat from escaping through cracks or windows during cold days, as well as keep heat inside on hot days when temperatures drop at nightfall.
Third, radiant barriers should be used on exterior walls to reduce the amount of heat that is lost through the exterior surface of a building.
How Often Should You Replace Your Air Filters?
Many people are not aware of the importance of changing their air filters. They think that if they change them once a year, it will be enough. This is not true!
It is important to replace your air filters every month for better indoor air quality. If you live in a dusty environment, you should change them every 2 weeks.
When the filter gets dirty, it can cause serious health problems like asthma and allergies.
The more often you change your air filter, the better it will work to remove dust and other pollutants from the air in your home or office space.
A dirty filter also causes the furnace to work harder and heat the home less efficiently.
Why Winter Home Maintenance is Important
Winter Home Maintenance is important because it prevents wear and tear on your home, which can lead to expensive repairs in the future. It also helps to keep your heating costs low by preventing ice dams from forming and stopping drafts that can cause your furnace to work harder. Winter Home Maintenance also helps to make sure that your house is safe, secure, and comfortable. It can prevent mold, keep insects away, and keep your pipes from freezing. To make sure that you have a winter home maintenance plan set up before the cold weather hits, it's important to discuss the necessities with your family. You'll want to determine what repairs are necessary or desirable for you during winter in order to ensure that your house is healthy year-round.
Contact Quad Cities Handyman for help with your winter maintenance items today!
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