How to Maintain Your Massachusetts Home: Winter Checklist
It is a cold evening, the cold wind is blowing outside. You are sitting on your living room couch under a thick warm blanket. As you are sipping some hot tea listening to some relaxing jazz. While basking in the warmth and comfort, for a quick moment, you shudder at the thought of a cold winter with no heat or with major repairs. So, you decide to go through your winter maintenance checklist tomorrow, after all you are already under your blanket.
Your Winter Maintenance Checklist:
Heating
Replace your furnace air filters every month or every other month.
Vacuum all heating supply registers, return grills, baseboards or radiators inside your home.
Schedule your annual heating system tune-up.
Plumbing
Have your water heater inspected at the same time as the tune up or at around the same time.
Check for leaks
Look for leaks from the shut-off valves from your sink, toilets, laundry, and main water shut-off valve.
Inspect pipes for condensation or slow drips.
Check inside bathroom vanities and kitchen sink cabinets and basement for signs of moisture.
Interior
Remove shower heads and faucet aerators, then clean off mineral deposits. Soak in white vinegar and scrub with a toothbrush
Examine your attic for frost accumulation and check your roof for ice dams or ice build-up. If either of these occur, this is a sign of inadequate insulation and/or ventilation.
Vacuum bathroom fan grille or any other registers you may have in your home. Removing the register grills and vacuum inside the duct work as far as possible.
Vacuum all fire and smoke detectors, as dust or spider webs can prevent them from functioning.
Vacuum radiator grilles on back of refrigerators and freezers, and empty and clean the drip tray underneath the refrigerator.
Exterior
Clean your gutters and inspect your roof and the shingles.
Inspect your siding, if shingle siding, look for splits and cupping.
Take care of your landscape by doing it yourself or hiring a landscaping company.
Check the foundation for cracks. Use silicon or caulk to repair them.
Further reading
If you need a complete and more detail list on maintenance, go to Massachusetts Home Inspection
