What could you love about Pacifica Winter Home Maintenance? The first thing is that repairs will be cheaper if you get them done in the fall. It’ll also be more difficult to find someone to do the work – if you can find them at all. They’ll be busy with all of the people who waited longer than they should have.
Your roof, heater, fireplace, insulated windows, and water heater are all items you’ll wish you had taken care of before the cold and wet weather gets here.
When you’re sitting on the couch watching your neighbor stand in the rain to get the clogs out of their gutters and gutter pipes you’ll appreciate having gotten these tasks done early.
I’ve spent plenty of time outside in the rain adding extensions to gutter pipes, pushing over water-logged garbage cans, and digging weeds out of drains for home sellers who were out of the area. So if you’re not going to do these things for yourself – do them for your realtor!
1. Pacifica Winter Home Maintenance Tip: Roof
If your roof is older, or you’re not sure how old, get a roof inspector out now before they get too busy. Some repairs could be quick and easy now, when it’s dry. Get them done sooner, before the leaks get to the point where water is coming into the house.
Water is tricky. It can make its way along a wall, down the side of the framing and come out on the other side of the house. You could have a much bigger problem than your budget can handle if it’s a significant amount of water.
2. Pacifica Winter Home Maintenance Tip: Gutters
More on water: gutters and gutter pipes can create deadly damage to stucco and wood. Dry rot is insidious. It’s also an invitation to termites and beetles. They love dampness and darkness. Dry rot can be growing exponentially behind the stucco or siding without giving you a clue that it’s there.
Water is overflowing from the gutters and/or pipes into the dirt that’s up against the house. The dirt is soaked and now water is wicking up between the stucco and the sheetrock.
Gutter pipe extensions come in several different materials, are inexpensive, and temporary. And kind of ugly. They can be set up for winter and then returned to garage storage when the rain stops.
Getting water to drain away from the house is one of the most important home maintenance tips.
3. Pacifica Winter Home Maintenance Tip: Drainage
Clogged drains or inadequate drainage problems will appear again when it rains. If you’ve lived in your home more than a winter or two, you can anticipate where the water is going to pool and clog.
Get down to the Linda Mar Fire station or the City Council parking lot on Beach Boulevard to pick up your sandbags. You can take as many as 15 bags. Bring a shovel in case you have to fill them yourself.
4. Pacifica Winter Home Maintenance Tip: Water Heater
Water heaters actually do need maintenance to ensure they last. Just before winter when you’ll be using a lot of hot water is a good time to take care of that.
Hire an expert if flushing, changing filters, adjusting flames are more than you want to take on.
5. Pacifica Winter Home Maintenance Tip: Windows
New windows are a major expense and certainly a project that needs to be planned long before winter. But there are several projects you can DIY to make your current windows more efficient.
Calking and weather stripping around windows and doors is an essential winter prep. They can save you from a chilly home, a higher PG&E bill, and extra wear on your heating system.
Sealing gaps, holes, and openings from wind will also seal them from water seeping into the property. As water seeps in it can lead to mold and bacteria growth.
6. Pacifica Winter Home Maintenance Tip: Heavy Curtains
Windows often cause the most heat loss. Heavy curtains will help tremendously. They’re another way to provide insulation to block drafts. Also, they reduce the need for excessive use of the heater.
Lined curtains add a sense of coziness to the house in winter. Their sense of warmth and comfort is like a giant winter sweater for your rooms.
7. Pacifica Winter Home Maintenance Tip: Draft Stoppers
If you don’t get a chance to calk your windows and doors you can use an easier solution: draft stoppers. They come in all sorts of lengths and types of fabric. You can purchase a draft stopper that is a showy display of color or one that blends into your decor.
8. Pacifica Winter Home Maintenance Tip: Heater Service
Household heater servicing is necessary to keep your heating system running efficiently and safely. Here’s what an expert servicing includes:
Inspection – A technician will check the furnace, thermostat, and other mechanical components. They’ll look for signs of wear and tear, damage, or potential issues that could cause malfunctions.
Cleaning – Dust and debris accumulates in your heating system, which will reduce efficiency. The technician will clean the burner, heat exchanger, blower to make sure there is proper airflow.
Filter replacement – Dirty air filters can not only block airflow and strain your heater but they can reduce the quality of the air inside the house. Replacing or cleaning the filter may be something you can do yourself.
Lubrication of moving parts – Any moving mechanical parts, like the blower motor or fan, will be lubricated to reduce friction and prevent wear.
Checking electrical connections – Loose or faulty wiring can lead to inefficiency or even be a fire hazard. Checking the wires will be high on the maintenance list.
Thermostat check – The thermostat will be calibrated to ensure it accurately controls the temperature potentially saving you energy costs.
Testing safety controls – Heaters have built-in safety mechanisms. The technician will test these to ensure they’re working correctly to prevent overheating or other dangerous situations.
Carbon monoxide testing – Checking for carbon monoxide leaks will keep you safe from the odorless and dangerous gas.
Airflow check – Airflow will be tested to ensure heat is distributed evenly throughout the house. If there’s a blockage or imbalance, it can lead to cold spots or inefficient heating.
System efficiency testing – Finally, one last overall check. The system will be turned on to verify it’s operating at peak efficiency.
Regular heater servicing will keep your house warm, your energy bills lower, and will extend the life of your heater.
6 Ways to Make Your Wood-Burning Fireplace More Efficient
1. Use seasoned wood.
Dry wood burns hotter and more efficiently than damp wood.
2. Clean the Chimney
Regular chimney cleaning is essential for your fireplace’s safe and efficient operation.
3. Install a fireplace insert.
A fireplace insert can increase efficiency by directing heat into the room.
4. Add glass doors
Glass doors help the fire burn more efficiently by radiating heat into the room.
5. Close the dampers
Closing the dampers when you’re not using the fireplace keeps air cold from seeping in and warm arm from escaping through the chimney.
6. Install a fireback
A fireback can create almost 50% better efficiency. Bricks absorb much of the heat from a fire. It then dissipates. A radiant fireback will diffuse and reflect heat back into the room.
7. Pacifica Winter Home Maintenance Tip: Reverse Fan Circulation
Some ceiling fans have a switches that make it easy to reverse its circulation. Reversing the direction of the blades will create an updraft and spread the heat more effectively throughout the living space.
8. Pacifica Winter Home Maintenance Tip: Ways a Programmable Thermostat Can Save You Money
1. Save Energy
All of the programmable thermostat’s features will keep you from wasting energy you don’t need. Conserve energy during off-peak hours when demand is low.For every 1 degree you turn down your thermostat, you’ll use 1% less energy.
2. Save Money
A programmable thermostat will lower the temperature when you’re away or asleep, avoiding unnecessary heating costs. The Department of Energy estimates that you can save up to 10% on heating costs with a programmable thermostat.
By taking care of these maintenance tips early you’ll keep your home cozy and healthy throughout the winter season.
I love helping people buy and sell real estate in my hometown. If you’re looking for real estate assistance, let’s talk!
Vicki Moore, Realtor
650-888-9268
pacificalocals@gmail.com
DRE 01234539
Compass
42 N Cabrillo Highway
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019