Things a Handyman Should Check before Winter

20 Sep Things a Handyman Should Check before Winter

You might think that it’s a little early to be thinking about winter preparation, but when it comes to house maintenance, the sooner it’s done, the better. Weather during the fall and winter can be extremely taxing on your home. Additionally, even the most minor repairs and maintenance can be very difficult to take care of when there’s snow and ice around, whether you’re taking care of it yourself or hiring a handyman.

That’s why you should make it a priority to get certain things done in the fall, before the weather gets too cold. Here’s a checklist that can help you ensure that your house is running smoothly all winter long:

• Have a professional handyman or plumber check your furnace and water heater to make sure they’re up for the task of keeping the house and the water warm and toasty.
• Speaking of your furnace, it might be wise to consider some extra insulation. Having an insulation blanket around your water heater can save you up to $10 per month in gas bills. And adding insulation in the pipes can not only prevent burst pipes in the winter, but it can also reduce the noises that clanging pipes make in the walls.
• As the weather gets colder, mice, spiders, and other pests tend to look for a warmer place to ride out the winter. Cracks around windows and doors can suddenly look like welcoming entryways. In order to reduce pests over winter, check the perimeter of your house with a caulking gun, sealing up cracks and holes.
• Clean out the rain gutters regularly during the fall to make sure that fallen leaves and built-up mud don’t cause a clog that prevents proper drainage.
• Check your shingles and roofing for signs of leaks.
• If you want to keep your energy costs low and your house comfortable, you might want to add some insulation. This might include weather stripping around the doors, a door sweep, and even certain treatments on the windows.
• Change the air filters on your HVAC. When these filters are dirty, they make your system sluggish. Dirty filters will also promote the presence of dust and allergens in your home, which may have your entire family experiencing allergies.
• Have a handyman clean and inspect your chimney. Whether you use it a lot or a little, buildup and debris in the chimney can easily cause a fire. Don’t wait until winter to make sure that you’re ready for a cozy night by the fireplace.
• Inspect all of your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Because we keep our windows closed in the winter, contaminated air is much more of a risk. Furthermore, we use more appliances that carry risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.
• In the yard, look around for loose or risky branches that might be blown down during storms.

For help with autumn maintenance, or handyman services at any time of year, give us a call.