Easy Home Drain Maintenace

Clean, unobstructed drains make for happy homeowners.  There is nothing worse for a home than backed-up plumbing or clogged septic systems.  In order to ensure your home drains keep flowing freely, normal monthly maintenance should be done.  Here are some easy tips for your plumbing:

Keeping your drains flowing freely can be done inexpensively, using a mixture of 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 cup vinegar.  Once a month, apply this mixture followed by hot water to rinse it down, into each drain throughout the house.  If you have a septic tank, use a yeast or bacteria booster such as Rid-X once a month to keep the tank operating properly.

Doing this preventative maintenance will keep your home drains clean and in great operating shape.  It only takes a few minutes of your time, especially when you consider the consequences.   

Proper Furnace Maintenance

 

Proper home furnace maintenance can take the Brrrrrr out of winter.  As the chilly days of fall will soon turn into the cold of winter, now is the time to give your furnace a physical check up.  There are things you, as the home owner, should do and others that a service technician should take on. 

As a home owner, you should:

• Replace the air filter every thirty days (throughout the entire year).
• Inspect the heating vents to make sure they are clean and open.  (Closing off vents in certain rooms of the house will make your furnace to run more in the winter and your air conditioner to run more in the summer, creating higher utility bills.)

An experienced Service Technician should provide the following:

• Check the flue vent for any corrosion of the heat exchanger, as well as proper operation.
• The burners should be cleaned and also checked for proper operation.
• The fan should be checked for dirt and cleaned as needed.

If all of these things are addressed and maintained, your furnace should provide efficient heat all season long.  Make sure to set up that appointment with a service technician before the cold weather sneaks up on you and a clogged flue, burner, or fan shuts your system down in the dead of winter.  Layered clothing and chattering teeth should be used for play kept outside of the house!  

 

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Home Exterior Maintenance

Fall is an excellent time to inspect your home's exterior before the change of seasons brings on the chill of winter.  The following items should be addressed:

• Examine all windows and doors for missing caulk and weather striping.
• Inspect the sides of the home for cracks or missing siding.
• If the paint is worn or peeling, fall with its cooler temperatures is the perfect time to scrape off the old and replace it with a new coat.
• Add more insulation to the attic of the house. Most homes come with room to add more insulation. 
• Replace old single-pane windows with new double or triple-pane windows. 

Addressing these issues can keep your home warm and comfortable on the inside, as well as lower utility bills.  While the winter outside is cold and frightful, you'll be glad you tackled the problems early.

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The Necessity of Home Roofing Inspections

Now that Fall is just around the corner, it's the perfect time to inspect your roof for any wear and tear left behind by obsessive heat or the summer storm season. Inspections should be done by an experienced home owner or roofing professional.

Your roof should be checked for missing, loose, or damaged shingles or tiles. Any issues found should be repaired or replaced.

Roof vents, and chimneys should also be checked for damage, or blockage. Roof flashing also should be checked for any damage or corrosion.  Now is also a good time to clean and inspect roof gutters and down spouts.

Repair any problems found!!!

With each of these potential problems addressed, you home can weather the winter months with ease and confidence.