March

TGIM

(Thank God It’s March)

BY: Fred Duemig ©

Week 1: Remove drain traps under sinks and clean them thoroughly. Clean pop-up drain plugs. Inspect the linkage for pop-up drains to make sure they are set properly.

Week 2: Check the basement for cracks or leaks. Call a professional if leaks exist.

Week 3: Keep Gutters & Downspouts clear.  Conduct a visual inspection of the gutters and downspouts around the house

Week 4: Close exterior faucets; open supply valves.

Fred Duemig is a New York State Licensed Home Inspector. We perform New York State licensed home inspections, certified termite inspections, property inspections, real estate inspections, in Long Island, LI, NY, Nassau county, Suffolk county, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Albertson, Amagansett, Amityville, Atlantic Beach, Babylon, Baldwin, Bay Shore, Bayport, Bayville, Bellerose, Bellmore, Bellport, Bethpage, Blue Point, Bohemia, Brentwood, Bridgehampton, Brightwaters, Brookhaven, Brookville, Calverton, Carle Place, Cedarhurst, Center Moriches, Centereach, Centerport, Central Islip, Cold Spring Harbor, Commack, Copiague, Coram, Cutchogue, Deer Park, Dix Hills, East Hampton, East Islip, East Marion, East Meadow, East Moriches, East Northport, East Norwich, East Patchogue, East Rockaway, East Williston, East Willison, East Port, Elmont, Elwood, Farmingdale, Farmingville, Flanders, Floral Park, Franklin Square, Freeport, Garden City, Garden City Park, Glen Cove, Glen Oaks, Glenwood Landing, Great Neck, Greenlawn, Greenport, Halesite, Hampton Bays, Hauppauge, Hempstead, Herricks, Hewlett, Hicksville, Holbrook, Holtsville, Huntington, Huntington Station, Inwood, Islandia, Island Park, Island Trees, Islip, Islip Terrace, Jamesport, Jericho, Kings Park, Lake Grove, Lake Ronkonkoma, Lakeland, Lakeview, Lattingtown, Laurel Hollow, Lawrence, Levittown, Lido Beach, Lindenhurst, Lloyd Harbor, Locust Valley, Long Beach, Lynbrook, Malverne, Manhasset, Manorhaven, Manorville, Massapequa, Massapequa Park, Mastic, Mastic Beach, Mattituck, Medford, Melville, Merrick, Middle Island, Mill Neck, Miller Place, Mineola, Mount Sinai, Muttontown, Nesconset, New Cassel, New Hyde Park, Nissequogue, North Babylon, North Woodmere, Northport, Oak Beach, Oakdale, Oceanside, Old Bethpage, Old Brookville, Old Westbury, Oyster Bay, Patchogue, Peconic, Plainedge, Plainview, Plandome, Point Lookout, Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson Station, Port Washington, Ridge, Riverhead, Rockville Centre, Rocky Point, Ronkonkoma, Roosevelt, Roslyn, Roslyn Heights, Sag Harbor, Saint James, St James, Sands Point, Sayville, Seaford, Searingtown, Selden, Setauket, Shirley, Shoreham, Smithtown, Sound Beach, South Farmingdale, Southampton, Southold, Speonk, Stony Brook, Stewart Manor, Syosset, Uniondale, Valley Stream, Wainscott, Wainscot, Wantagh, West Babylon, West Hempstead, West Islip, Westbury, Westhampton, Westhampton Beach, Williston Park, Woodbury, Woodmere, Wyandanch, Yaphank, Bayside, Whitestone, Astoria, Auburndale, Arverne, Bay Terrace, Belle Harbour, Bellerose, Breezy Point, Briarwood, Broad Channel, College Point, Corona, Douglaston, Douglaston Manor, Edgemere, Elmhurst, Far Rockaway, Flushing, Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Glendale, Hollis, Howard Beach, Jackson Heights, Jamaica Estates, Kew Gardens, Laurelton, Lindenwood, Little Neck, Long Island City, Maspeth, Middle Village, Neponsit, Ozone Park, Queens Village, Rego Park, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, Rockaway, Rockaway Point, Rosedale, South Ozone Park, Springfield Gardens, Saint Albans, Sunnyside, Whitestone, Woodhaven, Woodside, Roxbury, Seaside 

FEBRUARY

WINTER BLUES

BY: Fred Duemig ©

Week 1: Call and get estimates for major projects you plan for later in the year. Check and clean grout between tiles in kitchen and bath.

Week 2: Inspect the roof from the ground, looking for missing, loose or damaged roofing materials. If accessible, check the underside of the roof during heavy rain or snow for signs of moisture.

Week 3: Clean the condenser coils behind or underneath the refrigerator, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Make certain air flow around the appliance is adequate.

Week 4: Trim branches away from roof line to prevent damage and access for animals. Inspect all vents and remove any debris blocking air flow.

Fred Duemig is a New York State Licensed Home Inspector. We perform New York State licensed home inspections, certified termite inspections, property inspections, real estate inspections, in Long Island, LI, NY, Nassau county, Suffolk county, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Albertson, Amagansett, Amityville, Atlantic Beach, Babylon, Baldwin, Bay Shore, Bayport, Bayville, Bellerose, Bellmore, Bellport, Bethpage, Blue Point, Bohemia, Brentwood, Bridgehampton, Brightwaters, Brookhaven, Brookville, Calverton, Carle Place, Cedarhurst, Center Moriches, Centereach, Centerport, Central Islip, Cold Spring Harbor, Commack, Copiague, Coram, Cutchogue, Deer Park, Dix Hills, East Hampton, East Islip, East Marion, East Meadow, East Moriches, East Northport, East Norwich, East Patchogue, East Rockaway, East Williston, East Willison, East Port, Elmont, Elwood, Farmingdale, Farmingville, Flanders, Floral Park, Franklin Square, Freeport, Garden City, Garden City Park, Glen Cove, Glen Oaks, Glenwood Landing, Great Neck, Greenlawn, Greenport, Halesite, Hampton Bays, Hauppauge, Hempstead, Herricks, Hewlett, Hicksville, Holbrook, Holtsville, Huntington, Huntington Station, Inwood, Islandia, Island Park, Island Trees, Islip, Islip Terrace, Jamesport, Jericho, Kings Park, Lake Grove, Lake Ronkonkoma, Lakeland, Lakeview, Lattingtown, Laurel Hollow, Lawrence, Levittown, Lido Beach, Lindenhurst, Lloyd Harbor, Locust Valley, Long Beach, Lynbrook, Malverne, Manhasset, Manorhaven, Manorville, Massapequa, Massapequa Park, Mastic, Mastic Beach, Mattituck, Medford, Melville, Merrick, Middle Island, Mill Neck, Miller Place, Mineola, Mount Sinai, Muttontown, Nesconset, New Cassel, New Hyde Park, Nissequogue, North Babylon, North Woodmere, Northport, Oak Beach, Oakdale, Oceanside, Old Bethpage, Old Brookville, Old Westbury, Oyster Bay, Patchogue, Peconic, Plainedge, Plainview, Plandome, Point Lookout, Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson Station, Port Washington, Ridge, Riverhead, Rockville Centre, Rocky Point, Ronkonkoma, Roosevelt, Roslyn, Roslyn Heights, Sag Harbor, Saint James, St James, Sands Point, Sayville, Seaford, Searingtown, Selden, Setauket, Shirley, Shoreham, Smithtown, Sound Beach, South Farmingdale, Southampton, Southold, Speonk, Stony Brook, Stewart Manor, Syosset, Uniondale, Valley Stream, Wainscott, Wainscot, Wantagh, West Babylon, West Hempstead, West Islip, Westbury, Westhampton, Westhampton Beach, Williston Park, Woodbury, Woodmere, Wyandanch, Yaphank, Bayside, Whitestone, Astoria, Auburndale, Arverne, Bay Terrace, Belle Harbour, Bellerose, Breezy Point, Briarwood, Broad Channel, College Point, Corona, Douglaston, Douglaston Manor, Edgemere, Elmhurst, Far Rockaway, Flushing, Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Glendale, Hollis, Howard Beach, Jackson Heights, Jamaica Estates, Kew Gardens, Laurelton, Lindenwood, Little Neck, Long Island City, Maspeth, Middle Village, Neponsit, Ozone Park, Queens Village, Rego Park, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, Rockaway, Rockaway Point, Rosedale, South Ozone Park, Springfield Gardens, Saint Albans, Sunnyside, Whitestone, Woodhaven, Woodside, Roxbury, Seaside 

April

Readying The Yard

Planting/Gardening

BY: Fred Duemig ©

Week 1: Clear yard of downed tree branches and debris. Leaving these items on your lawn will kill the grass and may cause other damage as well. The earlier you clear branches, leaves, and other debris the healthier your lawn will be all summer long.

Week 2: Tune up Lawn mower/ garden equipment. Test and change the batteries in smoke, heat and gas detectors. Spring cleanup starts.

 Week 3: Check to make sure your sump pump works properly by pouring water into the pump silo to raise the float and   activate the motor.

 Week 4: Hire a professional to inspect and clean chimney. It is easier to schedule a chimney sweep this time of year and allows for enough time to make repairs before the next heating season.

For More Information Visit: www.divisioninspect.com

See My Informative Newsletter: DHI Home Savvy

FEBRUARY

WINTER BLUES

BY: Fred Duemig ©

Week 1: Call and get estimates for major projects you plan for later in the year. Check and clean grout between tiles in kitchen and bath.

Week 2: Inspect the roof from the ground, looking for missing, loose or damaged roofing materials. If accessible, check the underside of the roof during heavy rain or snow for signs of moisture.

Week 3: Clean the condenser coils behind or underneath the refrigerator, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Make certain air flow around the appliance is adequate.

Week 4: Trim branches away from roof line to prevent damage and access for animals. Inspect all vents and remove any debris blocking air flow.

For more information visit: www.divisioninspect.com

Better Late Than Never !! :) 

JANUARY

ANOTHER YEAR

BY: Fred Duemig ©

Week 1: Holiday decorations have to come down sooner or later. Service lights for next year before packing away. Be sure to wrap breakables in newspaper and store in sturdy boxes or totes.  Do end of year accounting, set up folder for current year taxes. Organize receipts and paperwork.

Week 2: Roam the house with a screwdriver. Tighten screws on doors, drawers and furniture. Make a list of broken cover plates, missing pulls or knobs, locks that need lubrication and caulking around sinks and tubs.  Make a list for a weekend project.

Week 3: De-clutter a closet. Pick just one. Empty it. Sort by things to save, donate, sell or toss. Organize and out things where they belong. Take out the garbage and set donations aside.  Replace shelf covers and drawer liners. 

Week 4: Call the utility company to schedule an energy audit. By now you have received your first big winter heat bill and you'll be motivated to improve efficiency. If you intend to start plants from seeds, plan your annuals. Start shopping for seeds and starter mix.

For more information visit: www.divisioninspect.com

DECEMBER

HOLIDAYS

HOLIDAY SAFETY

BY: Fred Duemig ©

Week 1: Check gauges on home fire extinguishers to ensure a full charge. Replace if necessary. Clean dishwasher, trash compactor and countertop appliances.

Week 2: A Christmas Tree should not loose green needles when tapped on the ground; cut 1" off trunk to help absorb water; stands should hold 1 gallon water; a 6' tree should use 1 gallon water every 2 days; use only UL-listed lights-no more than three linked together; turn off when out or asleep; NEVER use candles.

Week 3: Review the family fire escape plan with every family member.

Week 4: Don't close vents to crawl spaces. If you live where pipes can freeze and the floor becomes very cold, insulate pipes and under the floor. Vents play an important role in controlling condensation beneath a house.

For more information visit: www.divisioninspect.com

NOVEMBER

Winterization

Freeze Protection

BY: Fred Duemig ©

Tips of the wek for November.

Week 1: Service snow blowers and snow removal equipment. Have sprinkler system winterized.

Week 2: Install storm windows - stow away patio and lawn furniture

Week 3: Clean and vacuum dust from vents, baseboard heaters and cold-air returns.

Week 4: Shut off exterior faucets supply; leave faucet open.

Dog Days

Hot Fun in The Summer BY: Fred Duemig ©

 

Week 1: Check the operation of all ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets by pushing the "test" button. The "reset" button should pop out, indicating the receptacle is operating properly. Press in the reset button. Change or clean air conditioner filters. 

 

Week 2: Check all exterior walls for peeling paint. Cut your painting job down by painting two walls per year. Typically, paint on south and west facing walls deteriorate faster and need more frequent re-coating.

 

Week 3: Inspect garage door opener and lubricate according to manufacturers directions. Ensure all bolts and screws are tight and secure.

                                                                                    

Week 4: Check for leaks around washing machine. Inspect hoses and replace if necessary.

Vacation Plans

Travel Safety – Home Security

BY: Fred Duemig ©

Week 1: Inspect the operation of automatic timers and motion detection systems, especially if planning a vacation. 

Week 2: Repair or replace damaged window and door screens. Caulk open and cracked joints, particularly around windows and doors. 

Week 3: Clean lint from entire clothes dryer vent system, from the dryer to the vent cap. Check operation of roof mounted turbine exhaust vents, screens and attic fans.

Week 4: Hire a certified chimney sweep to inspect and clean chimneys. Doing this task now allows plenty of time for repairs before next heating season begins.

For more information visit http://www.divisioninspect.com

With all the rain and wet weather I thought this article, "Keep Your Basement Dry", would be of interest to people in the northeast. It was written by "Mr. Fix-It", Tom Feiza, a PE, Home Inspector and repair consultant. It has many excellent suggestions and is a good learning tool especially for new homeowners.

Keep Your Basement Dry

Tom has many other interesting articles that may be of interest in his website.

Good luck and Stay Dry,

Fred