Protecting Your Home Through The Seasons

Insurance Neighbor • January 1, 2019

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House overlooking a hillside of vivid autumn foliage with red, orange, and yellow trees
Winter Home Maintenance

  • Vacuum HVAC registers to remove dust and debris.
  • Flush out water heater to remove built-up sediment.
  • Clean refrigerator coils.
  • Check caulking around showers and tubs and replace if needed.
  • Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace the batteries if necessary, and every three months no matter the season.
  • Check the crawlspace for animals, foreign matter, or water damage.
  • Change furnace filters at least every three months.
  • Schedule an AC service call before the first hot day of the year.
  • Replace batteries in flashlights.

Spring Home Maintenance

  • Clean windows and repair or replace any damaged screens.
  • Vacuum the lint from your clothes dryer hose.
  • Check gutters for clogs and clean out any debris. Make sure downspouts are secure.
  • Check for cracks in concrete or asphalt walkways and repair or reseal them in warm weather.
  • Check that the ground around the foundation is sloping away from the house and re-grade if necessary.
  • If you have a sump pump, test it to ensure it is working properly.
  • Test your attic fan, if you have one, before summer arrives.
  • Make sure trees around the house are not threatening wires or power lines.
  • Check the roof for holes, crumbling, blistering, or rotting, and repair or replace as needed.
  • Test Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets by plugging in a lamp then hitting the test and reset buttons to see if the lamp turns off and on.

Summer Home Maintenance

  • Clean and check decks, patios, and porches for damaged stairs, sagging roofs, or peeling paint. Make sure supports are not weakened, rotted, or broken.
  • Power wash the siding on your home.
  • Test and lubricate garage doors.
  • Check your dishwasher for leaks under or around it. Make sure the washer arm is not stuck and the drain hose arcs up to prevent backwash.
  • Remove shower heads and clean out any sediment buildup.
  • Schedule a service call for your furnace before the first cold day of autumn.
  • Replace batteries in flashlights.

Fall Home Maintenance

  • Check windows and seals for leaks and reseal if necessary.
  • Shut off hose bibs.
  • Clean out gutters.
  • Check the eaves for stains (signs of a leak)
  • Clean out overgrown vegetation and cover or bring in outdoor furniture, fire pits, and grills.
  • Make sure your indoor fireplace is ready for winter.
  • Check that ceiling fans are firmly secured to the ceiling.
  • Change furnace filters.
  • Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and change batteries as needed.

Check Your Homeowners Insurance Coverage

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