Taking care of seasonal home maintenance is a great way to extend the life of certain elements of your home and head off larger maintenance problems later. Keller Williams Northeast Realty wants to help you protect your home investment.
February is the month of love. Show your home some love this month with these tips.
Indoor Home Maintenance
(1) Seal Windows, Doors and Prime Leak Areas: Take an inventory of all your windows and doors, checking for any moisture accumulation and any air leakage. These leaks can typically be solved with a good layer of caulk or replacing the weather stripping. Other prime leak areas are around toilets and showers. If moisture is noticed, the problem may be resolved by re-caulking, but may require a call to your plumber.
(2) Clean out your dryer vent: This is a great thing to do every year. Neglected dryer vents and the subsequent build up of lint and debris in them are one of the largest causes of household fires every year. Good news, this is easy to fix! By removing the hose from your dryer and vacuuming out the lint, you can remove one of the biggest fire hazards in your home. Click here for a step by step instruction list.
(3) Speaking of fires: Check your fire extinguishers. If you notice any signs of wear or damage like dents, rust, or the needle no longer in the “green”, replace the fire extinguisher immediately. Fire extinguishers also typically have an expiration date on the bottom of the can. Check to make sure your fire extinguishers are still in date. If not, replace immediately.
Outdoor Home Maintenance
(1) Time to Mulch: Especially in Houston, it’s essential to get ahead of the warm weather before weeds have a chance to seed and spread. Adding a layer of mulch will help you get ahead in the annual Battle of the Weeds.
(2) Prune: Trim back those ornamental grasses and shrubs to get a healthy and full plant in spring. Houstonians don’t typically have to worry about frost-bitten plants, but this year we do! Take this month to trim away damaged and dead limbs and leaves.
(3) Check for broken or busted hose bibs and sprinklers: Get a head start on the summer heat by doing an audit on your external water sources. Recent freezing temperatures could have caused a sprinkler leak or a broken hose bib.
Personal Maintenance
Show yourself a little love this month. Do ten minutes of stretching a day. Get involved in a pilates or yoga class. Go have coffee with a friend or by yourself for some healing ‘me’ time. Read a book or go for a run.
Have a good idea for personal or home maintenance this month? Leave us a comment!