Home Maintenance Tips | January 2025
New Year, new you—and a happier, healthier home! January is the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and tackle those home maintenance tasks you’ve been dodging. Think of it as giving your home a little TLC after the holidays—it deserves it! Regular upkeep isn’t just about keeping things looking good; it can save you big on repairs, boost your home’s value, and even keep your insurance on your side (because nobody wants a claim denied over a leaky faucet gone wild). So grab your tools (or maybe just your to-do list), and let’s make your home the MVP of the New Year!
Update Your Home Inventory List
A home inventory list is a comprehensive record of all the items in your home, including furniture, appliances, electronics, clothing and other personal belongings. This list can be physical or electronic and is invaluable in the event of a natural disaster, fire or theft, as it can help you document your losses for insurance purposes. You should update your home inventory list at least once a year or whenever you make a significant purchase or get rid of something.
2. Change Filters
Water, HVAC, vacuum and other filters are crucial in keeping your home clean, safe and comfortable. Changing or cleaning these filters regularly ensures that they are working effectively.
Below are recommendations on when you should change each type of filter:
HVAC filters: Every 30 days
Vacuum filters: Every three to six months depending on the type of filter
Refrigerator water filters: Twice per year or per the manufacturer’s recommendation
3. Check for Ice Dams
Ice dams occur when water flows down the roof and then refreezes at the eaves, creating a dam that prevents melting snow from draining properly. This can cause water to back up and leak through your roof and damage your walls and ceilings.
If you notice an ice dam forming, you can remove it by using an ice dam steamer or hiring a professional to remove it for you.[4] Additionally, you can take steps to prevent ice dams from forming by regularly raking the snow off of your roof.
4. Ensure Your Gutters Are Clear and Working Properly
Clogged gutters won’t effectively channel rainwater away from your roof and foundation, which can cause water to pool and lead to water damage and foundation problems. You can clean your gutters yourself using a ladder and a pair of gloves or you can hire a professional to do it for you.
5. Clean Your Fireplace
Cleaning your fireplace is an important part of home maintenance, especially if you use it regularly during the colder months. If you see that there is excessive buildup of creosote and soot, then you may want to hire a professional chimney cleaner or take the below steps to clean it yourself.
Remove ashes or debris buildup: While wearing a dust mask and using protective gloves, use a fireplace shovel or broom to remove accumulated ashes or debris.
Clean the inside of the fireplace: Use a fireplace brush or scraper to scrub the inside of the fireplace and remove any soot or creosote. You can also use a fireplace cleaner to help loosen stubborn debris.
Clean the outside of the fireplace: Use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe down the outside of the fireplace and remove dirt or grime. Be sure to dry it off thoroughly to prevent any water damage. Also, keep flammable sources away from the fireplace while it is in use.
6. Declutter Your Kitchen and Test Your Smoke Alarms
To give your kitchen a good declutter, start by taking everything out of your cabinets and pantry. This makes it easy to wipe down and disinfect the shelves. Next, sort through your items and get rid of anything outdated, expired or no longer useful. Consider donating any items that are still in good condition.
Then take some time to reorganize them so that everything is easy to find and access. You can use storage containers, bins or shelves to help keep everything organized.
Finally, be sure to check that your smoke and fire detectors are functioning properly. The batteries may need changing or you may need to change the sensor altogether if it’s not functioning properly.
7. Remove Heavy Snow From Tree Branches
While tree damage is a covered loss under some circumstances, you may not be covered if you did not take steps to trim your tree and remove excessive snow buildup that can lead to branches snapping. Tree damage can be costly if a heavy branch or even the tree itself falls on your roof, siding or through a window.
To remove heavy snow from tree branches, you can attempt to gently shake the tree branch to dislodge the snow or use a tool like a shovel or broom. If the job is too dangerous or if the branch is too high up and inaccessible, you can hire a professional to remove the snow for you.
8. More Winter Maintenance Ideas
There are several more things you can do to keep your home and yard in tip-top shape during the winter:
Clean Porch Lights, Pathways and Security Cameras
Clear out Drains
Check For Pests
Inspect for Mold
Cover Your Air Conditioning Unit
Restock Sidewalk Salt and Ice Melt
Post Courtesy of Smart Financial | View Full Article Here