Take care of a few important maintenance items NOW to avoid big headaches later. Sure, the cold temps and snow have officially arrived, and the next snow storm is rolling in again, but there is still time to get a few of those nagging preventative maintenance items taken care of before you regret it.
Brutal precipitation and cold can exacerbate small problems and lead to costly repairs or higher utility bills. “The key to maintaining your home inside and out is to catch issues as early as possible and fix them quickly before minor repairs lead to much larger and costlier problems,” explained Jeff Hester, of Hester Painting & Decorating. Hester recommends homeowners take the following steps – or hire a skilled contractor to conduct them – to protect their home and their family.
- Windowsills, steps, thresholds, and decks – Flat areas are vulnerable. Replace any rusted nails and screws. As best you can, clear your horizontal surfaces of settling snow and water throughout the winter – this means icicles too!
- Make certain the humidifier is working properly and set correctly according to the owner’s manual or your HVAC contractor. Dry winter air is the biggest cause of cracking caulk and shrinkage of the interior woodwork. On the other extreme, too much humidity results in moisture building up on windows, potentially causing watermarks on the wall below and mildew or mold.
- Exhaust Flaps – Check to make sure all flaps are working properly and are clear of blockage, such as lint or birds’ nests. When blockage prevents the warm exhaust air from escaping, humidity can build up in the walls behind the vents.
- Caulk any gaps on exterior windows to prevent wasted energy costs and water damage. Such spaces can give moisture a foothold for problems such as mildew and rot.
- Make certain you have intact weather stripping on all doors to prevent heat loss.
- Examine the interior corners of your home, as corners are where cracking and wear often first appear. Check the places where the door frames and baseboards join to see if they have split, cracked, or peeled.
- Inspect your interior ceilings for cracks or watermarks, both signs of potential large problems. Winter can be an ideal time to tackle interior walls and surfaces and with waterborne paints, it means very few fumes.
- Cover or put in storage all painted and stained outside furniture.
Hester Painting & Decorating also encourages homeowners to take advantage of their free Interior Maintenance Program. The no-obligation program includes a thorough inspection of the home’s interior, and it includes cost estimates and timelines for suggested repairs. Participating homeowners also receive priority scheduling for any repairs they choose to have made. The inspection can be scheduled for any time of year, but it is most effective to contact Hester during the fall in order to properly prepare for the brutal Chicago winters.
