It’s almost that time of year again when the temperatures dip down to the teens and sometimes even lower. Plus frenzy of spring and summer cleaning are long over. The hectic schedule of summer activities and social events is winding down. And, now, it’s about time to kick back and enjoy the crisp fall air, the fireplace, the toasted marshmallows, and the long evenings at home.
Well, not quite yet. There still remain some important home maintenance items you should complete winter sets in here in the Carson City area.
If you have been neglecting your ‘honey-do’ list most of the summer then you probably should take care of these maintenance items now before winter hits hard. If you wait too long, harsh weather and busy contractors may make it even tougher to get these tasks done in a timely manner. Let’s take a look at several areas in your home that deserve a little attention before winter is actually here in Northern Nevada.
Furnace/Heating System
Even though the weather is somewhat mild for now, one of the first home maintenance items you should take care of is to thoroughly check out your furnace and heating system – for both efficiency and safety reasons. September and October are probably the best time to make sure of your furnace’s optimal functioning assuming the bipolar weather hasn’t already given us snow or freezing temperatures.
The very first step is to replace the filter. And then a good second step is to clean ducts where you can (though this may require the services of a professional). Another recommended part of heating-system maintenance is to call in a professional to go over your HVAC system (or whatever heating source you have) to ensure optimal, as well as safe, performance. It’s better to catch small problems now before they turn into larger costly – and cold – ones later on.
Fireplace and Chimneys
Another one of those important maintenance items is making sure your fireplace and chimney don’t present any safety hazards if you have a fireplace of course. You do want to enjoy that crackling fire with some peace of mind, don’t you?
Creosote build-up can present a grave safety hazard that can be the source of a devastating fire. If you’re not sure how to inspect for and then clean creosote build-up, you should probably use the services of an experienced chimney sweep.
Water Lines
This is probably one of the biggest things you need to make sure is checked, even though the water lines are technically inside your house, water-supply lines in exterior walls, or even under your home, can be susceptible to freezing during cold snaps. Just a little effort now can prevent hugely inconvenient and messy problems in the middle of winter.
So let’s say the water lines for your kitchen sink are under the sink on an exterior wall (which is often the case). There are two things you can do, both of them fairly easy and inexpensive. Simply wrapping these supply lines with insulation designed for this purpose will be a definite freeze-prevention step. Even better would be to wrap those lines, if you have a convenient electrical outlet nearby, with heat tape.
Gutters and Downspouts
Most of us rake up fall’s fallen leaves in the yard, but often we forget about the gutters and downspouts till the heavy rains of the following spring. And over the long haul, that can be a costly oversight.
Clogged gutters and downspouts will cause water to back up and run down behind the gutters and onto the fascia board, leading to rot and eventual replacement. So before the winter season hits, make sure your gutters and downspouts are free of debris and draining properly so that ice won’t build up and cause any damage to your gutters or home.
Roof
Of all home maintenance items you should take care of this winter in Carson City, checking the roof is the one most often neglected, especially during the summer because we don’t get much rain during those months. But it shouldn’t be.
Violent winter winds, sometimes heavy snow, and freezing rain can force water into places on your roof (even uphill) where it would normally never get. So before winter officially gets here, it is time to check your roof for broken or missing shingles or tiles. If you do detect any problems, it may be a good idea to call in a roofing contractor.
With these 5 home maintenance items that you should taken care of before winter in Carson City checked off your ‘honey-do’ list, you can now – with peace of mind and a sense of security – relax and enjoy the holiday season. Still, these are just the basic tasks and there may be more items to check off your ‘honey-do’ list before the end of the year. 😉