Around the House
Seasonal Home Maintenance Tips

Summer

• Clean out your gutters and down spouts so the rain water doesn't overflow the top of the gutters or backup under the shingles.
• Make sure there are no low areas around your house that can pool water and cause basement damage.
• Service air conditioning unit and make up air units.
• Clean or replace furnace filter.
• Re-caulk windows and doors.
• Trim Trees and shrubs.
• Inspect basement/crawl space for seepage and leakage.
• Check carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors.
• Recharge fire extinguisher.
• Mow your grass slightly higher during the hot weeks of summer.
• Call Home Check Plus at 800-615-4956 now to schedule your Fall Home Tune Up and heating system maintenance.

Fall

• Get your heating and ventilating system checked.
• Get your snowblower tuned up before the snow flies.
• Aerate your lawn.
• Clean gutters of leaves and debris.
• Check your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers when you set your clocks back.
• Use your bath exhaust fans while showering.
• Always use your kitchen exhaust fans while cooking.
• If you don't have frost proof outside hose bibs, shut off exterior faucets and drain pipes before temperatures drop to freezing. If you have the standard frost free hose bibs, you should disconnect the hose so the faucet can drain out.

Winter

• Check your outside vents (dryers, bath exhaust fans, furnaces, etc.) to make sure they are working properly and free of frost and debris.
• Keep your humidity levels lower as the temperature drops and keep window treatments open as much as possible.
• If you have an older home that's not well insulated, you should have the snow removed by a professional to prevent ice dams from forming and shingle damage.
• From time to time, open a couple of windows in your home for 10 minutes or so to help air quality and this usually helps prevent moisture build up.
• Avoid walking or driving on your lawn when it is cold and without snow cover.
• Check your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers.

Spring

• Fertilize your lawn.
• Turn on exterior faucets.
• Check and clean central air conditioning system.
• Replace air conditioning filters per manufacturer's recommendations.
• Maintain proper grades drainage away from the house.
• If a hail or wind storm hits, contact a professional to examine the roof for damage. This damage may be covered by insurance.
• Check your roof periodically for loose vent flashing and other items that happen due to normal wear and tear.
• Check and repair asphalt driveway as needed.
• Check your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers.
• If you are going to do landscaping, don't dig until you call Gopher State One at 800-252-1166 to locate underground utility lines.
  

Call Home Check Plus at 800-615-4956 if you would like help on any of these items. Be careful and consider hiring a professional to take care of your home properly and safely. We'll get to your "To Do List" before it gets to you. Licensed, insured, and getting the job done for homeowners for over 20 years.