Get Ahead of Winter

November home maintenance tips from your Cincinnati licensed home inspector:

• Clean gutters and downspouts after final leaf fall.
• Inspect attic for leaks or pests.
• Check insulation in crawl spaces.
• Service snow removal equipment.
• Test sump pump.
• Inspect exterior doors for drafts.
• Store garden hoses.

November is the time to prepare for our Midwest Winters — mostly grey cold days with a handful of snow days.  The leaves fall and clog the gutters, the furnace kicks on and runs and runs and runs.

You want your home cozy for the family… and that means it’s also cozy for those “outside critters”. They will find a way to get where it’s warm… so check that attic and crawl space for any unwanted guests.

Since it’s you paying all the bills, there’s two parts to pay attention to if you want to hold onto your hard earned dollars — the home envelope and your heating equipment.  Is the insulation in the attic enough?  Today’s standards is to have over a foot of insulation (the photo only shows a few inches). Doors and windows – do they shut tight, are there drafts?  November is a good time to check the weather stripping.  Onto the furnace: How strong is your machine? Will your HVAC struggle or simply jog through the season?  If your HVAC pro has not yet come out for the seasonal set up – get that booked before they are flooded with emergency calls.

We all know about the cold November rain… add to that the possible clogs caused by the fallen leaves, so that sump pump deserves a quick test.  It’s easy, open the cover and lift the float. It should turn on and pump the standing water out the pipe.  Yes there’s always standing water in the sump unless your basement gets no water infiltration.  Oh, easy is a relative term because with a nice wet area in the sump, it’s a place to find bugs and spiders… so if you’re not into that… ask a buddy for help.

Book your pre-winter home inspection with K Street Inspections.

https://www.kstreetinspections.com | 513-393-9001