Every season there are home maintenance and safety items that should be done to make certain that a home continues to run properly and will not incur damages in the long run. Many homeowners skip over these basic home maintenance necessities because of busy schedules or sometimes because they are unsure of what tasks to accomplish along the way.
Simply keeping up on these small tasks can ensure that your home will function better in the long run. Seasonal home maintenance will also ensure that you have less overhaul or major expense repairs than homeowners who do not keep up on small season maintenance. These small maintenance items can also protect your home from fire, flooding, or other damages caused by neglect.
To keep from being overwhelmed by the task of home maintenance, it is best to separate these tasks into seasonal chores. For those who live in an area where there are four definite seasons, it is best to follow a logical task schedule that works with necessary maintenance for the different seasons.
If possible, set up a schedule of cleaning and maintenance tasks for each season. Try to maintain that schedule throughout the years. This will ensure that the tasks are not forgotten from one year to the next.
Winter Tips
Tasks that should be accomplished at the onset of every winter season are those that make certain your home will be protected from the cold or the damp weather. Even for those who live in a warmer climate zone, the winter season brings on more rain and chilly weather, so making sure the home is safe from damp and cold is the best bet for the winter season.
Winter tasks should include:
* Removing screen doors and windows and replacing with storm windows
* Checking insulation of pipes in attics, basements and crawl spaces and reinsulating if necessary
* Storing firewood in a dry spot near the home for easy access
* Checking and cleaning the clothes dryer and kitchen exhaust systems and cleaning the clothes dryer duct space
* Checking attic for proper ventilation for running of the furnace
* Checking all the water hoses connecting to appliances, water heater and water softener to make sure there are no cracks or air bubbles. Repair if necessary.
Spring Tips
While winter brought on the cold, the spring brings on the cleaning out season. It also brings on a peak in spring lightening and thunderstorms, so routine maintenance tips should include prevention methods against electrical damage.
Start with spring tasks such as:
* Checking all the homes electrical systems
* Testing all the ground fault receptacles
* Making sure all power surges are in place on the appliances
* Inspecting and replacing necessary smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
* Replacing or repairing any extension cords used in the home that may be damaged or becoming worn
* Replacing the much used furnace filter from the winter
* Checking the roof for possible damages that may not have been noticed in the wintertime to prevent spring rain leaks
* Making sure all gutters are cleaned and all outdoor drainage systems are working properly
Summer Tips
While you can get out and about and enjoy the outdoors during the summer months, it is best to focus summer maintenance on outdoor tasks.
These tasks may include:
* Cleaning and repairing all outdoor power tools, such as the lawnmower, weedeater, or hedge trimmer
* Checking the patio and deck for possible deterioration and fixing and performing any necessary repairs
* Inspecting the roof for possible damage and water leaks if this was not done in the spring time
* Checking the brick, siding and cement areas on the home for shifting in the foundation or cracks or chips in the siding or brick
* Taking time to seal the cracks in the garage floor and driveway
Fall Tips
The fall is a great time to make preparations for the oncoming winter season before it is too late, so focus maintenance on things to keep the home safe and warm during the winter.
These tasks can include:
* Having a professional inspection on the entire heating unit, especially the furnace
* Replace the furnace filter if necessary
* Reexamine the home for potential water leaks in the roof, basement, and even the appliances such as the dishwasher, washer, or refrigerator
* Examine and replace any caulking that has begun to wear away in the doorways, windowsills and even in the bathrooms to prevent winter leaks
Outdoor maintenance that should be performed before it gets to chilly outside:
* Empty out the gasoline and clean out the outdoor power tools before placing in storage for the winter
* Making sure the generator works in case of winter power failure
* Have a professional chimney inspection and cleaning of the chimney flue. Have repairs done before the winter or before using
These tips should help ensure the safety of your home, your property within, and your family. The list may seem overwhelming, but just tackle them one at a time.
By: Ian W Anderson
Posts Tagged ‘Doors And Windows’
Home Maintenance: For Every Season And Safety Tips
May 19th, 2010Which Home Improvements Pay Off (and Which Ones Don’t)
November 2nd, 2009
There are two main reasons people take on home improvement projects: for their own pleasure and in hopes of increasing the resale value of their homes. As long as you spend time and money for the first reason, you’ll be okay. It’s when you start thinking more about the second reason that you may be in for a disappointment. Even if improvements add value to your home, few recoup the money they cost. For example, a swimming pool, which costs tens of thousands of dollars to install, adds little to no resale value to a home. People are turned off by the maintenance aspect, and parents with small children will worry about safety issues.
So, what improvements do add enough value that you’ll come close to making back what you spend? It’s the highly visible improvements that will help most. Unfortunately, the less visible ones don’t impress. Replacing the roof or furnace, while they may need doing, won’t convince a home buyer to pay more. Likewise, new energy-efficient doors and windows are not likely to recoup the cost of installation (However, if you are going to continue living in your home for the next few years, $1,000 spent on insulation and caulking existing windows and doors can help you save on your energy bills).
The biggest home improvement you can do to impress homebuyers (and make them want to pay more) is one of the cheapest. Paint. As long as you pick colors that will appeal to a wide audience–and you do it right before you list (before it has time to get mucked up)–you’ll increase appeal. Likewise crown molding is relatively inexpensive to install but adds the wow factor to otherwise regular rooms.
So, what else is worth doing? You may have heard that kitchens and bathrooms are what sell a house, and this is true, but don’t think you have to spend tens of thousands on a whole-room remodel. Getting rid of outdated wallpaper or paint will help tremendously. Also sand and paint/stain old cabinet doors to make them look new. Switch out the dated cabinet hardware for something stylish and modern.
Any time you can take dead space (i.e. an attic or basement) and turn it into functional space (i.e. bedroom, office, media room), you stand a good chance of recouping much of the money you invest in the project (85% of the cost returned at resale is the national average).
If your house only has one bathroom, you can recoup about 90% of the cost by adding a second. (Adding a third gets you back less).
Landscaping can also improve curb appeal and salability of a home, but don’t spend thousands on hiring a professional (it won’t increase the value anywhere near that much). Tackle landscaping projects you can do yourself instead.
Keep this advice in mind before you open your pocketbook to hire contracts and buy materials for massive remodeling projects. If you’re going to spend a lot, make sure it’s–first and foremost–for you and your family, with resale of the house a distant second consideration.
By: TC Thorn