Autumn is the perfect time to give your home a good inspection. The colder months are quickly approaching, and with them comes inclement weather that can cause problems around the home.
So, what should you do?
By checking a few things out around your home during the Fall months, you can help to make sure that things operate smoothly throughout those cold months, and that you are not left dealing with problems that could have been avoided.
Total Home Inspection Checklist
Below are 4 simply tasks that you should conduct each Autumn to ensure that your home is safe, and ready for the harsher months.
Make your own checklist, and start examining these things in the weeks ahead.
1. Drainage and Plumbing
The first thing you should check out is the water systems around your home. Autumn is hurricane season for many areas, and this means you could receive a large amount of rain at any time. This is why it is important to look at all of your gutters to make sure they are not clogged with debris, and to examine nearby drains for anything that might be blocking it. When the rain comes you want it to be filtered away properly, so check these things out before it happens.
While you are looking at the outside of your home, also examine the inside as well. Look for leaky pipes, wet spots in the ceiling, or small puddles in your basement. If you have a sump pump that removes water from under the house, you will also want to examine this to be sure it is functioning properly. Any time there is water where there shouldn’t be, you have a problem that should be taken care of right away.
2. Electrical Wiring
The next thing to look at is your home’s wires. This includes the plugs for any large appliances to ensure they are not fraying or breaking down, outlets are properly secured into the wall and not overloaded, and that your breaker panel is in working condition.
Once everything looks good on the inside, move outside to inspect the wires running to your home from the street. You especially want to be on the lookout for tree branches that are growing too close to these wires. When snow comes they can weight these branches down, and eventually collapse onto the wires. Before you know it the power is out to your home, and you are left in the dark. If you notice any branches close to the wires, have a professional come and cut them down before the bad weather arrives.
You may also want to consider doing an energy audit for your home. Do your part to conserve energy and reduce your carbon footprint by installing LED lights, low-flow showerheads and a programmable thermostat. These minor changes will not only help save you money every month, but they will PAY FOR THEMSELVES over time.
3. Air Inspections
The air quality in your home can have a large impact on your health. This is why it is important to have it inspected every once in a while to be sure you are not breathing in anything dangerous. Checking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors is an important part of this process, but there is more you can do.
One problem many homes face is the growing of mold. When things like wood or fabric become wet, they can grow mold if left untreated. Some molds are hazardous to breath in, and you won’t even know it is happening. By having a mold inspection test completed you can ensure that the air in your home is free of mold toxins, and that nothing dangerous is growing in your home.
4. Check Your Furnace and AC Systems
Lastly, you want to make sure the heating and air conditioning systems in your home are in top condition. The worst time to find out your furnace isn’t working is right as a snow storm hits, so this is something you will want to get taken care of ahead of time. Examine your furnace, and look for any rust or soot buildups inside the flue. If it has been a while since the last maintenance service, have a professional come in to work on it, regardless of what you find.
The same goes for your AC systems. Once Summer hits you will want it working properly, so you might as well get it fixed now. Make sure nothing is blocking the system, and that there are no signs of rust or wear. Again, have a professional maintenance company come in from time to time to give it a good once-over.
5. Always Be Prepared
Home inspections don’t have to take up a lot of your time, but they can prevent some large problems down the road. Schedule a day in the near future to knock out all of the items mentioned above and you’ll even have time to give your home a good cleaning. After that, you can rest easy during the upcoming months knowing that you did everything you could to prepare your home.
