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From a safely secured ladder, check gutters and the lower roof for ice dams and eliminate as necessary. Be careful of ice when accessing the roof. Avoid going on the roof in the morning. Wait until the ice has melted, later in the afternoon. Check that the covers are still on the outside hose bibs (faucets) and that they have not iced up. Make sure that the yard is not pooling up with water. While you probably won’t be able to create a full-scale yard drainage system in winter, you will want to make sure that none of that water is near the foundation. If so, grade the soil away from the house to prevent interior flooding. Use this indoor-friendly season as your opportunity to clean the basement, garage, and other interior spaces that get neglected during warm, sunny months. Keep an eye on your electrical service drop and the line that leads from your home to the power pole (only if you have above-ground electric service). If large branches have fallen on or are hanging on the line, call the electric company for removal.
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Clean the gutters and, using a water hose, make sure that they drain. Check the exterior siding for damage and repair as needed. When the roof is dry and safe to walk on, check shingles, flashing, and vents for damage. Clean and replace window screens. Trim back trees that may deposit branches on your home. For branches near power lines, call your electric company for pruning. In late spring, install window unit air conditioners. Reverse ceiling fans so that the vanes rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. This will move air downward, cooling the room. Thoroughly clean the windows with a squeegee. Replace the HVAC filter. Clean the house and sell unwanted items at a yard sale. Service the A/C unit in preparation for the summer.
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Make repairs to the home’s siding and paint the exterior as needed. Clean and repair your outside deck. Wash and apply a sealant to wood fences by brush, roller, or paint sprayer. Flush out your water heater to empty it of sediment. Clean debris from window wells with a broom. If you noted any drainage problems from previous seasons, now is the time to consider building a robust drainage system with catch basins in your yard. Replace the HVAC filter if you have central air conditioning. Inspect the roof for loose shingles and flashing. Replace windows and exterior doors, as needed. Have an HVAC company inspect the furnace and make necessary repairs. Repair cracks in an asphalt driveway with crack sealer. Resurface the asphalt driveway by sweeping on asphalt sealer with a broom.
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Test the sump pump by pouring water down the sump pit until the pump turns on. Remove, clean, and store the window screens. If your home has storm windows, install them. Remove window unit air conditioners. If you have central air conditioning, winterize it. If not already done in the summer, call an HVAC company and have them perform annual maintenance on the furnace. Call in a chimney cleaning service or clean the chimney by yourself. Winterize exterior hose bibs (faucets) by protecting them with foam covers. Remove leaves and debris from garden ponds and water features. Reverse ceiling fans so that the vanes rotate in a clockwise direction. This will help distribute the warm air that collects near the ceiling. Perform regular quarterly maintenance.
Press your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector buttons to make sure that they are still working. Replace batteries as needed. Check the gauges on your fire extinguishers to ensure that they are still correctly pressurized. Check your water heater’s temperature and pressure (T&P) valve to make sure that it will expel water. Place a bucket below the relief tube to avoid flooding. Make sure that your garage door’s safety reverse function is working and that the electric eyes are correctly positioned. For low-use areas such as guest or basement bathrooms, flush the toilet, clean sediment rings from the bowl, and turn on both sink taps. Check your water softener to make sure that it is topped off with enough salt. Remove showerheads and sink aerators and soak in vinegar to clean out collected sediment. Make sure that the dryer vent is properly venting to the outside. Test all of the GFCI outlets to make sure that they are working properly.
