Well, I can't believe another year has come and gone. Fall is here and winter is right around the corner. In New York City that means we need to do everything possible to remain warm and safe in our homes (our investment).
A key to protecting the investment you've made in your home is by following a regular maintenance schedule. By performing preventative maintenance, you'll avoid many of the big repair items that can lower the value of your home.
Here is a helpful checklist for monthly and Fall maintenance:
- Check faucets for drips and check plumbing for leaks. (Running water can freeze up in the colder months and can sometimes cause the pipes in your home to burst... this can be a costly fix!!!)
- Test your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector. Make sure you change the batteries in both. This should be done twice a year.
- If you use a portable humidifier, it's time to clean it.
- Have your furnace and water heater systems serviced by a qualified service company. (My service contract gets renewed in early September every year).
- If you have electric baseboard heaters, vacuum them to remove dust. Now this step is crucial ...Remove the grills on forced air systems and vacuum inside the ducts.
- Put up storm windows.
- Remove screens from the inside of casement windows to allow air from the heating system to keep condensation off window glass.
- Ensure windows and skylights close tightly.
- Make sure all doors to the outside shut tightly, and make sure you renew the weather stripping as required (If you could feel a draft then RENEW IT!!)
- The water heater is also very important to maintain. You can extend its life expectancy by draining a gallon or two of water from your hot water heater at least twice a year. (I like to do this once a month... It will add ten years to the life of your unit when this is done).
- Check your chimney for obstructions, such as bird's nests.
- Clean gutters and test downspouts to ensure proper drainage from the roof.
- Make sure the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation wall. Remove mulch from the foundation wall as well. This helps prevent water damage. (Most people don't realize that most water damage is caused by the sponge-like effect of mulch... so this step is very important).
- Drain and store outdoor hoses. Prepare your outdoor faucets for winter freezes.
- Protect young trees and bushes for winter and winterize gardens.
- Trim shrubs and trees so that they clear the foundation, exterior walls, and roof of the house. (The worst thing here in New York is the effect that the accumulation of snow can have on weak trees or branches... so make sure to trim them!!)
- Store outdoor furniture.
I hope you found this information to be of value to you (that was the sole intention).
To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home eval, please visit: http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/
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