Let’s start with something that you should know: Homeowners, on average, will spend up to 4% of their home’s value on maintenance annually.
This means that if your home costs you $500,000, you should spend around $20,000 annually on the maintenance and upkeep of your home.
And what better time to have a look at your home maintenance needs than the winter? But, before you get started, we have the ultimate Winter Home Maintenance Checklist just for you!
Keep reading to make sure that you’ll have everything done before winter arrives!
Your Winter Home Maintenance Checklist
The chilly weather is slowly creeping in; the nights feel cooler, and the days are a little shorter. So now is the time for you to get started with your home checklist for winter. This is going to help keep the value of your home stable should you ever want to sell.
Let’s help you avoid finding yourself too wrapped up in blankets to move!
1. Check Your Heating System
Whether you have a gas forced air furnace, boiler, or heat pump, you’re going to need to check that the system is doing everything that it is supposed to do.
Leaks need to be checked for, the ignition should be tested and replaced if need be, and your outdoor heat pump should be clear of any trees or foliage. If you need a contractor to help you with this, contact me.
2. Check The Fireplace
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, after you’ve taken the time to clean the ash away, remove any debris, clean the glass doors, and check the roof for debris, then it’s a good idea to light a small test fire.
Check for a backdraft or problem areas.
Also, ensure that your wood storage area is not too close to your fireplace.
3. Clean The Chimney
Clogged and blocked-up chimneys can be a serious fire hazard!
There are just over 25,000 chimney fires per year directly related to this. But, blocked chimneys don’t only cause fires; they can also be connected to carbon monoxide poisoning.
A winter inspection and subsequently booking a chimney sweeping is a good idea!
Another good idea would be to eventually get a gas fireplace insert because most days that you want a fire in the fireplace are red burn days, and a gas fireplace can be used much more often than a wood-burning one. Your neighbors will thank you!
4. Prevent Your Sprinkler System And Other Exterior Plumbing From Freezing
Frozen pipes can be a severe problem for homeowners, especially since you may find them cracking, and after that, they can lose hundreds of gallons of water in just one day!
Start with turning off your sprinkler system and if it doesn’t have a stop and waste valve, blow it out with an air compressor.
If your home has exterior hose-bibs that aren’t freeze-proof, shut off the interior shut-off valve and then turn the hose-bib on to drain it and then shut it off again.
If your home has a crawl space, make sure pipes are insulated to prevent freezing.
If you have a sink in a garage that is not attached to the home or heated, you should also turn that water off.
5. Check Your Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Generally, in winter, we keep our doors and windows sealed tight. This means that if poisonous gases like carbon monoxide or smoke are leaking into the home, it’s likely they could be more concentrated than usual.
Ensure that your detectors are working at 100% capacity because if you can’t detect it, a winter fire can go up quicker than you anticipate due to drier air. Since we can’t smell carbon monoxide, a detector is the only way you’ll know if you have an issue.
Replace the battery and run appropriate tests.
6. Maintain The Trees On Your Property and Clean Your Gutters
Keeping your trees outside in tip-top shape will aid you in keeping your gutters clear and free of debris. Why does this matter?
Well, as things start to freeze and the snow starts to fall, you don’t need the extra weight of tree debris lying in your gutters or on your roof. Trim the trees back away from the roof of your home and keep them neat to avoid this. Also, clean out your gutters prior to winter, so ice dams don’t form on your roof.
These items are an important part of your home maintenance checklist.
Fight The Freeze!
This Winter Home Maintenance Checklist will help assure that you are prepared for the cold winter months ahead and prevent potentially expensive and time-consuming problems.
If you’re considering buying or selling a home in or around Salt Lake County, contact us now.
