Home Maintenance Tips

for
January

The hustle and bustle of Christmas is behind us now as the year draws to a close.  Holiday goodies are quickly disappearing, hopefully not to reappear on our waistline, and  rituals like putting away the decorations,  making  resolutions and midnight toasts at the New Year’s party help usher in another year.  

~ Home maintenance should be a yearly ritual to protect one of your biggest investments ~

Winter is well under way with the coldest weather still to come.  Get the year off to a good start by reviewing and checking off these home maintenance tips.

• Check your furnace filter monthly and replace as needed.
  

• Look for pests seeking shelter.  Cold weather drives mice and insects into the walls of your home.  Even unheated parts of the house invite these pests.  Insects need only a crack to enter, and mice can get in through a dime-sized hole.

• Locate your home’s water shut-off valve; learn how to turn off the water quickly in case a pipe bursts.
  

• Remove water hoses from outside faucets to prevent pipes from  freezing and bursting.
  

•  Clean leaves from gutters and roof, and test downspouts to ensure proper drainage from the roof.  Clogged gutters don’t drain properly and the excess weight from wet leaves and ice are a primary cause of gutter failure.

• Organize:  If you’re struggling to find a place for all the holiday gifts your family received, you’re not alone. Home-improvement stores consider this month the “storage season,” which means you can probably find an unusually good selection and price on plastic bins, closet organizers and shelving.  If you store decorations in the attic inspect the under side of the roof sheeting while you are up there, discoloration or wet spots are an indication of a roof leak.

Wood’s Home Maintenance Service is always ready to assist you with your home maintenance, repair or building needs. Contact us now for a free estimate.