During Winter, essential maintenance & repairs of our property is the key to a healthy and safe home environment. When a house is kept clean and in good repair it is less likely to develop the problems that will turn it into an unhealthy environment. These problems range from poor air quality in the form of mold and other allergens, to drafts, disease carrying rodents and invasive insects. Even problems with dangerous gases such as radon may prove a problem in homes that do not have home maintenance plans in use. Fortunately your household cleaning or home maintenance checklist does not have to be overwhelming in order to be effective.

The following are five key essential home maintenance categories to focus on for this winter.

Your Heating System:

Before Winter:

• Have your furnace or boiler checked and serviced by a licensed contractor at least once a year, preferably before the heating season begins.
• Clean or replace the furnace filter on forced hot air systems.
• Have your chimney checked and serviced by a licensed contractor at least once a year. Pay particular attention to having creosote
• build-up removed for chimneys servicing woodstoves and fireplaces.

During Winter:

• Have your fuel tanks filled and keep an eye on levels throughout the winter.
• Set your heating system – the temperature inside the walls where water piping is located is colder than the living spaces;
• open doors to unoccupied rooms to keep an even temperature throughout the house.
• Maintain your wood-burning or pellet stoves according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

House Insulation in Raheen, Limerick

Your Insulation:

• Add extra insulation in the attic to guard against ice dams. If too much heat escapes into the attic, it can warm the ice and snow on the roof. When it refreezes, it can cause an ice dam, which can lead to water damage inside your home or possibly even a roof collapse.
• Add weather stripping around doors and caulk windows to guard against drafts and heat loss.
• Remove screens from windows, and install storm windows.

Your Utilities:

• Check for water leaks and fix problems immediately; wrap water piping in UL-Listed heat tape and insulate if it is exposed in unheated areas such as garages, crawl spaces or attics. Use only thermostatically controlled heat tape if your water piping is plastic and follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
• Learn how to shut off your water and know where your pipes are located in case they do freeze; you may be able to prevent water damage.

Your Winter Safety Measures:

• Trim trees and remove dead branches so they do not damage your home or injure someone if they fall because of ice, snow or wind.
• Keep gutters clear of leaves, sticks and other debris to ensure melting snow can drain properly. Make sure downspouts direct water away from the foundation.
• Repair steps and handrails to make them safer in the ice and snow.
• Check smoke detectors, fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries to ensure they are operating properly.

Your Key Supplies and Equipment:

• Make sure you have snow shovels and a roof rake on hand. Stock your ice melting compound to melt ice on walkways.
• Have your snow blower and generator serviced and any necessary repairs made.
• Keep fuel for snow blowers and generators in approved safety containers and away from heat or flame producing devices. Do not store fuel in your basement.