As summer winds down and fall quickly approaches, your maintenance to-do list should be on your mind. Not too long ago, my husband actually said he needed a list for the often forgotten maintenance items around the house. Not going to lie, it shocked me. We have been homeowners for more than 20 years. I thought he knew everything that needed to be done and when! With that being said, I thought I would throw out a few of the “forgottens” and why they are so important. I am guessing we aren’t the only ones who think that houses last forever and need zero maintenance, right?
Clean Your Rain Gutters
Rain gutters are great. If you don’t have them, get them ASAP. They will save your landscaping from floods, and your guests will love that they don’t have to run through a water fall to get to your door. Now here’s the thing: You have to clean them out. It’s not terribly hard; well, that is unless you have a lot of trees around. The main thing is to clean any debris such as leaves, excessive dirt that has settled over time and the occasional bird nest. You don’t need to have a gutter ripped off your fascia during an unsuspecting downpour that caused a pool of water. So if you don’t want to do it, there are businesses that will do it for you.
Service Your Furnace
Did you know that HVAC equipment is the most neglected appliance in the home? It’s also most likely the most expensive appliance in your home. Servicing your equipment on a regular basis is HUGELY important. Yes, HUGELY is a word when it comes to this! Furnaces can last 18-20 years with a good service annually. Not to mention that it will cut down on your heating costs and it can also keep you safe. No, really, having your furnace inspected every year is also a safety measure. Having the heat exchanger inspected for cracks can prevent toxic fumes and gases from leaking into your home. I actually knew a guy who had packrats that built a nest in his heat exchanger. He saw smoke coming out of the pipe in his roof last winter. It wasn’t a chimney…it was his furnace on fire! Have yours inspected please! Some companies offer maintenance programs and discounts so don’t forget to ask when you schedule.
Disconnect Outside Hoses
A few years ago, I drove up to a home I was house sitting during winter. It was Christmastime and the family was away. What I saw was absolutely stunning and beautiful. The pipe to the hose in the front yard had broken. The frigid temperatures had caused it to burst overnight, due to the fact it wasn’t drained properly. It looked like something from the movie “Frozen” – twinkling icicles hanging from everything in their yard and a frozen “fountain” coming from the ground. Okay, so maybe it was pretty, pretty destructive and damaging. We don’t want to talk about how much it cost to fix that. Unhook hoses from faucets. If you plan to be away, you may want to have your home winterized by a professional plumber.
Pumpkin Everything
Okay, so maybe this isn’t a maintenance item, but I just wanted to say it, because it’s my favorite and if I’m writing an article about fall I have to squeeze it in somewhere!
This is just a very small list of what needs to be done. I do have a more comprehensive checklist I would love to share with you. Email me at bgolin@ypeinc.com and I will gladly share. Also, we offer heating and plumbing services along with a maintenance program to save you $$$. Call me at 928-533-6392 and we will get you all set for winter! QCBN
By Beverly Golin
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