The arrival of winter likely means you'll be spending more time inside. Review our home maintenance checklist for November to ensure you aren't missing any essential tasks. Be mindful of the upkeep and security checks that must be made when the temperature drops.
Prepare your house for the coming of winter with the help of iTaskApp's Home Maintenance and Safety Checklist for November. It's also an excellent time to prepare for the holidays and your guests.
Obstructions in the chimney and fireplace.
You must remember to get your fireplace inspected before you use it during the colder months. A thorough assessment of your fireplace may help you enjoy safer, more cost-effective fires for an extended period by revealing any defects limiting its performance. The smoke in your house will have difficulty getting outside if the chimney and fireplace aren't clean and in good functioning order. Having your fireplace examined by iTaskApp contractors can give you peace of mind that it is safe to use in your home.
Keep unwanted animals and pests out of your house.
David Brugh, a co-owner of Meridian Wildlife Services, notes that pest infestations are common. Things like woodpiles and open trash cans can attract unwanted bugs, so be cautious. If you want to keep flying insects away from your porch at night, try switching to yellow or high-pressure sodium lamps. Depending on the amount of no-kill traps used and the frequency with which traps need to be checked, the typical cost to keep animals out of your home is between $125 and $250.
Smoke detectors should be checked.
As shown by fire safety studies, modern furniture contributes significantly to the fast spread of flames. You must install smoke alarms in strategic locations to make the most of the time you have to get out of a burning building. Smoke alarms are needed not just outside each sleeping area and on every level of the house but also inside each sleeping room (even for existing residences), according to NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.
Check for drafts and leaks.
It is possible to detect air leaks driving up your energy costs by doing an air pressure test on your property, which involves drawing in outside air. Gaps and rot in frames, deteriorated caulking, fractured glass, and closures that don't wholly shut may all allow air and water into otherwise sealed windows. Gaps exist if outside light may enter the room from any direction other than directly via the window. Put caulk and weather stripping around the frames to prevent air leakage. Ratty frames aren't tight, so your AC and heating will escape.
Make sure there is no dirt clogging the gutters and downspouts.
The roof of a typical home may collect several thousand gallons of water after only a few inches of rain. Such water must be diverted away from the house's base. When this moisture gets inside, it may cause various issues, such as mold and rotted wood. Indoor air quality issues may also be brought on by an abundance of moisture. The downspouts direct water four to six feet from the building, the gutters are free of corrosion, cracks, and holes, and the system is appropriately proportioned to avoid a runoff.
Clear the dryer's vent of lint.
Cleaning a clothes dryer is just as important as cleaning any other device. The lint trap and dryer vent and duct should be cleaned regularly; doing so is helpful for several reasons. The risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning may be reduced by keeping dryer vents and ducts clean. One's clothes are drier, and one's clothing will have a longer lifespan if one takes shorter drying times.
Examine the shingles to see if any are missing or broken.
Look for discoloration, holes, or sagging sheathing that might indicate a leak. If you're not afraid to mount a ladder, you can undertake a fairly in-depth check from the ground using binoculars. Keep a watch out for ice dams, which are ridges of ice that develop at the edge of your roof, if you live in a region with cold or snowy winters.
Prepare your air conditioner for the winter.
To properly prepare your HVAC system for the winter, you need just invest a few minutes of your time. Early autumn, before you start using the heater and shutting the windows, is the ideal time to prepare your outdoor air conditioner. Select a day with good sunshine, so the unit can dry off in the air. Thoroughly drying of the device is required.
Check for drips and leaks in the plumbing system.
A leak may be anywhere in your home, including the basement, the attic, the walls, the ceiling, and any pipe you can see. Everything in the house must be flushed, including sinks, drains, tubs, showers, and commodes. Any water that escapes the pipe before reaching its intended location increases the risk of structural damage from mold, mildew, and floods.
Search for frayed wires or broken outlets as you inspect the electrical system.
Even if you're not buying or selling a home, having an electrician check your electrical system at least once per decade is still a good idea. In the realm of building trades, electrical wiring is among the most highly regulated. Lack of grounding is very hazardous. Thus electricians always double-check it. The primary breaker's ability to keep current at safe levels and whether or not the circuit breaker is overloaded may be easily seen.
Maintaining a well-functioning house requires regular attention, at least once a month. Preventative maintenance, such as inspecting smoke detectors, testing GFCI outlets, and checking furnace filters, may help you avoid costly repairs down the road. Unmaintained houses have a more significant heating cost impact and are more difficult to heat throughout the winter.
Things to look forward to (and be ready for) this time of year include Thanksgiving and the winter holidays. Get prepared for the harsh winter weather and start on holiday preparations so you can kick back and enjoy the season's simpler pleasures.
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