It’s the Pacific Northwest, right? What can possibly cause issues?
If you’re a renter or homeowner, you may have to look after a few things to keep them from getting worst. You don’t want to be the one that gets their insurance claim denied because of lack of care for something that could have been mitigated.
Here are seven things that should be regularly reviewed:
Roof
Again, this is the pacific northwest and that means rain… lots of it. This also means that many homes begin to show signs of moss on the roof.
You may think that it looks likes, but it’s a bad thing for your roof because it can cause issues that start on the roof with a crack in a shingle and may move into your home.
Gravity will pull that moisture down and may cause all sorts of damage to your attic, walls, electrical, and maybe even your carpet, furniture, and other personal effects.
Do monthly checks to keep an eye on your roof’s condition.
Gutters
Gutters are essential for the home and keep water away from key areas (siding, doors, windows, and your foundation.
If there are tree leaves in the gutters, there will be an overflow of water when it starts to rain again. This overflow will cause issues if the water gets into nooks and crannies that eventually turn into mold, mildew, and/or rot.
Be sure to keep an eye out when you do laundry. Why then? Because if you “attached” a reminder of gutters and laundry, you’ll be checking them between 1-3 times a month. During autumn, that’s when it’s most important.
Water Heater
Where is your water heater located? Is it in an area that you don’t even notice it? Maybe in the corner of a garage or behind a storage area?
Having hot water during colder weather is a need that we all want to keep. Let’s do what we can to keep them working.
Is your water heater between 5-10 years old? If so, you may begin to hear knocking, water around the base, water not warming up, or no hot water.
To prevent running out of hot water, two times per year, be sure to do a flush to remove sediment. Fall and Spring are two good options.
HVAC
HVAC systems help your home stay cozy in the warm in the cold months and chilled in the hot months. It’s important to take time to keep the filters clean or replaced. Sometimes this simple thing can help the system from cycling on and off or not turning off at all.
If you are maintaining the filters and still find that it is not doing what it normally should be doing, be sure to call a technician to service it. And, one important thing is to have it looked at about a month before summer or winter so that you can get a technician in before everybody else gets on their schedule.
Pipes
How old are your pipes? This is something that is not thought about because we don’t see them. Sometimes you have an issues in your sink or toilet and it is associated with your outdoor pipes rather than the indoor pipes.
This can be a larger issue with your foundation or walls. The worst part is that you won’t even know until you begin to see the signs of a leaking toilet, water on the walls or floors, or coming through your ceiling.
Foundation
Your foundation is what your home sits on and without a strong foundation, it makes for a weak building.
If too much water gets into the foundation, it can warp the wood, create cracks in the cement, and move the foundation. Inspect yearly.
Yard
Your yard can be resilient with local plants that can weather any kind of weather. Sometimes you may see grass grow back after a heatwave or ice storm. However, you may also have plants that may need to be trimmed, covered, or completely removed for them to survive the winter.
Additionally, you may have to weatherize your outdoor waterspouts to prevent cracking and breaking. If you have a landscaper, this may already be part of their process. If in doubt, be sure to ask.
Taking time to care for these things in your house with be a great return on investment.
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