Regular home maintenance can prevent emergency home repairs and lower utility bills. We are having a relatively mild winter this year (2012), but it’s not over yet and March may “come in like a lion” …

Winter Home Maintenance Tips

• Ensure eaves and downspouts are clear (you probably took care of this in the fall) and make sure the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation. This will help keep water and melting snow away from your house and out of your basement. Keep windows and skylights closed  tightly.
• Clean or replace your furnace air filters frequently and have your furnace serviced by a qualified technician every 2 years if you use gas, or every year if you have an oil furnace.
• Clean your humidifier two or three times during the winter season.
• Vacuum grilles in your bathroom fan as well as those in refrigerators and freezers.
• During the winter months, monitor your home for condensation on the windows or other signs of  excessive moisture. Too much indoors can cause damage over time both to your home and your health.
• Check sump pump operation.  Melting snow and spring rain can result in a higher water table and a wet basement.
• Check the roof for ice dams or icicles. Air leaks and inadequate insulation in your home’s attic may be factors. Ice removal can be dangerous so assess and call a Professional if necessary.
• Keep snow and ice off of gas meters, gas appliance vents, exhaust vents and basement windows.
• If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch, use it to push heated air from the ceiling down into the room.
• Ensure wood fireplace chimneys are clear.
• Keep walkways clear of ice and snow.