It's time for Fall home maintenance

With fall just around the corner, now is the time to get busy on the following items you can take care of around your house to get your home ready for the colder months ahead.

1. Using binoculars, check for damaged, loose or missing shingles on your roof.

2. Examine the chimney flashing to make sure there are no leaks. (The flashing is the metal that prevents leakage around chimney and walls where they meet the roofing shingles.)

3. Examine the flashing around skylights and roof stacks to make sure there are no cracks or gaps.

4. Cut back any tree branches or limbs hanging within three feet of your roof. The weight of snow and ice will drag them down and damage your shingles.

5. Clean out the gutters of leaves and debris and secure any that are loose.

6. Fill cracks in walks and driveway to prevent heaving.

7. Turn off and drain all outside hose bibs, sprinkler systems and pool equipment.

8. Do not cover your air-conditioning compressor. (Although experts differ, it is generally accepted that the compressor unit is designed to be outdoors. Covering it could accelerate rust and corrosion, while providing a home for field mice or chipmunks who cannot forage for food in severe weather and will start nibbling on the wire’s insulation.)

9. Start your snow blower engine to make sure it will turn on. Spray auger and snow chute with Pam or a lubricant to reduce clogging.

10. Check the oil in your snowblower. It’s probably a good idea to replace it with fresh 5-W-30 oil, which is a good winter oil that makes your engine easier to start. Replace the spark plug in your snow blower as well.

11. Buy rock salt or a de-icing compound and store in a convenient and accessible place.

12. Fill your lawn mower and add a couple drops of Sta-bil to the gas tank and store the lawn mower in a cold place. Make sure to keep it covered.

13. Close all vents to your crawl space (if applicable)

14. If your house has a whole-house fan in the hall ceiling, install a plastic vapor barrier on top of it and then cover it with insulation to prevent heat loss.

15. Circuit breakers should be tripped and reset every six months to clean the contacts so they don’t oxidize and become useless.

16. Oil the furnace, boiler motor or circulating pump if required. (Usually a 20-weight oil is best unless otherwise stated.)

17. Caulk any gaps around windows and doors.

Technihouse Inspections, Inc.

4940 Rands Road ~ Bloomfield Hills, MI ~ 48302 ~ 248.855.5566

www.technihouse.com

A few tips for Spring cleaning outside

Time to start getting ready for spring cleaning. Here are just a few tips to start you off: 1. Check for loose or leaking gutters and clean debris from them so rain water runs freely. 2. Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation of your house. 3. Any low areas in your yard or next to the foundation should be filled with compacted soil. Spring rains can cause yard flooding, which can lead to foundation flooding and damage. Also standing water in these areas cause a breeding ground for insects. (Photos courtesy of google search)

Flat Roofs Need Annual Inspecting Too

Flat roofs, even the new generation with single membrane coverings need periodic maintenance and inspection.

One of the biggest drawbacks of flat roofs is drainage, or lack of drainage. Although flat roofs do have a slight slope to drain water, they are not nearly as efficient as a pitched roof. Rainwater tends to remain on flat roofs and form puddles, which can lead to material damage and possible roof leaks.

Go up there, remove any debris like leaves and twigs, look for cracking, bubbling or blistered areas. Check around vent, flashings, drains, parapets and any roof-mounted equipment. If you are unable to get to the roof, hire a home inspector or roofing contractor to do an annual inspection. It could save you a bundle.

(Photo courtesy of Google)