The Post Winter Home Health Check
Though it’s not quite over yet, we’re starting to look at the end of winter, as well as those comfy winter feels, and the thaw to what has felt like a pretty bitter cold over the last few weeks. Before you start looking for ways to escape the home into better weather, however, you should make sure that the stress of winter hasn’t done a number on it. Here, we’re going to look at all of the little checks you should make, and the tasks you should do to ensure that your home can be prepared for spring.
Take a look at the roof
Whether it’s just because you’ve been dealing with plenty of extra rain, or you have had storms in the area lately, you want to make sure that you take the time to look up at the roof. After all, although spring might be warmer, it also tends to bring a lot of rain with it, so if you have any shingles that are cracked, broken, or missing, you might find yourself contending with a leak. If it’s safe, take a look at your roof to make sure that it’s in fine condition and, if not, get in touch with a roofing specialist. You might not need to replace a whole roof just to patch up a hole, but you should always be prepared to hear that your roof just isn’t fit for purpose anymore.
Don’t neglect the gutters
Our attention is sticking with the top of the home for now, as it’s not just the roof that can get the worst of the winter weather, our gutters can suffer, as well. In particular winter winds, storms, and the like can pick up a lot of dirt and debris, which can land on the roof and slide down into the gutters. Blocked gutters are a serious problem, as water that builds up can start leaking into the home. Checking and cleaning your gutters is vital to make sure that your home is able to do with excess rainwater as safely and healthily as possible.
Check your faucets, hoses, and pipes
The winter can be hard on your plumbing. First of all, if you have a heating system that relies on hot water going through the home, then your increased use of that may have caused a little stress that’s worth checking out. More importantly, however, you want to take a closer look at your plumbing to make sure that the winter hasn’t frozen over any pipes, especially those that are outdoors or close to the outdoors. Any cracks, leaks, or other issues should be addressed with the help of a plumbing team. You don’t want to get surprised by a sudden leak and the expenses of the water damage that it can cause.
Perform an HVAC health check
Over the winter, you’re going to have been using your HVAC a lot more frequently, in all likelihood. Take the time to perform a thorough heating inspection, and order a service from your HVAC specialists. It can be a good idea to take a look at your air conditioner, too, even if you haven’t been using it a lot in the cold weather. You want to make sure that it hasn’t lost any efficiency due to disuse, and you want to clean out the vents of any moisture, as well, as that moisture is where a lot of nasty germs can spread, being disseminated through the air of the home when the AC turned back on.
Keep that air flowing freely
In the winter, we tend to spend a lot more time in the home, and we also have more clutter to deal with, due to extra blankets, and soft furnishings, not to mention all of the seasonal decorations. What’s more, a lot of us will rely on the heating much more regularly in the winter and all of this can stress out the air conditioning and filters of the home. You don’t want to live in a home that’s more likely to get sick because of poor airflow or high levels of particulate contamination in the air so be sure to clean your filters, and take a look at your air conditioner to make sure that it’s working right.
Inspect the home’s exterior
Aside from the issues that can appear inside the home as a result of the winter weather, it can also cause or accelerate the wear and tear that can be happening to the outside of the home, as well. This can include, for instance, your driveway, patios, and any other bits using tiles or concrete. Take the time to inspect them. Any cracks in your concrete, you can fill them in with either silicone caulk or concrete crack filler. If the surfaces are starting to look grimy and are getting slippery, then you might want to invest in a power washer. Even renting one can help you wash away the grime without doing too much further wear to the materials beneath.
Go over the garden
It’s going to soon be time for gardening season to start in earnest, and you want to make sure that you do any necessary cleanup now before you have to go get to work. This might mean taking the time to locate and check any of your gardening tools, especially motorized ones like lawnmowers or strimmers. If you have a sprinkling system, you should also make sure to ensure it’s working by turning it on. The cold can cause a host of issues in sprinkler systems, such as leaks, broken sprinkler heads, and more. You might not need to rely on it just yet, but you can save yourself the headache now by fixing it now and getting it ready for when you do.
Hopefully, you’ve been thoughtful enough to prepare your home for winter in advance, and the cold weather has been kind to your home that it doesn’t need too much work. Always wise to check, however.
