April Home Maintenance Tasks

April has arrived and brought spring with it!  There is no better time than now to get focused on home maintenance and spring cleaning.  Here are a few things you can do in April to protect (and organize) your home. 

Check For Damage - Winter can be really hard on your home.  A quick inspection around your property can reveal a lot of home improvement projects!  Look for any damage to your roof or outdoor window screens and doors.  Make note of chipped paint or areas that are in need of general maintenance.  Decide what you can do yourself and what will require a professional. 

Spring Clean - Now it’s time to tackle the inside of your home.  Start working on clearing out and donating unused items (Think tax deduction next year!).  This could be the perfect time to take inventory of any high value items that need to be documented for your insurance, like guns, artwork, and jewelry.  Take photos or make a quick video of those items and store it in a secure (and fire-proof) location. Knowyourstuff.org has a free online home inventory software. 

Organize Your Tax Documents - You probably just finished your taxes in the past few weeks.  Were all of your documents easy to locate?  What could make the process even easier next year?  Update your filing system or schedule a meeting with Dottie Booth by calling (508) 867-0478 and get prepared now.

Car Maintenance - April is Car Care Month.  If you've been putting off an oil change or a tune-up, get it scheduled now.  Your car will run better and maintain it’s value longer!

Spruce Up Your Porch - How does your front porch look these days?  Could it use a little extra care?  Buy a new welcome mat, plant a pot of flowers, and make sure you can easily read your house numbers. 

Get Great Homeowners Insurance - The best way to protect your home?  Having the right amount of insurance!  Let us give you a no-obligation review of your current policy.  Call 508-347-9343 to schedule your appointment today.


P.S. Your Invited to our Ribbon Cutting! All our wonderful customers are invited to our official ribbon cutting of our brand new office! I hope you’ll join us on May 8th at 4:00 p.m. for the ribbon cutting and the celebration of our 40th year serving our local communities. There will be food, beverages, local celebrities, raffles, and other surprises! Hope to see you there! 

Winter Home Maintenance Tips

Travelers Insurance made a wonderful 'winter home maintenance tips' article. It is below. Have a safe and happy winter! 

As winter nears, make sure your home is prepared to withstand another season of cold temperatures, driving winds and icy conditions. The maintenance that you do today can help prevent more costly emergency repairs in the height of a storm, when it can be difficult to find supplies and licensed contractors.

Download the Winter Maintenance PDF >

Following are five important categories to focus on for this winter:

Your Heating System

Before you give your heating system a workout this winter, take the time for preventive maintenance. It may help extend the life of your system and identify potential problems.

Before winter:

• Have your furnace or boiler checked and serviced by a licensed contractor at least once a year, preferably before the heating season begins.
• Clean or replace the furnace filter on forced hot air systems.
• Have your chimney checked and serviced by a licensed contractor at least once a year. Pay particular attention to having creosote build-up removed for chimneys servicing woodstoves and fireplaces.
   

During winter:

• Have your fuel tanks filled and keep an eye on levels throughout the winter.
• Set your heat no lower than 55 degrees as the temperature inside the walls where water piping is located is colder than the living spaces; open doors to unoccupied rooms to keep an even temperature throughout the house.
• Maintain your wood-burning or pellet stoves according to the manufacturer's instructions.

 
Your Insulation

Is your insulation prepared to protect you from the cold? As an important line of defense from winter’s gusty winds and freezing temperatures, it is worth taking some time to inspect and upgrade insulation and weather stripping before the season starts.

• Add extra insulation in the attic to guard against ice dams. If too much heat escapes into the attic, it can warm the ice and snow on the roof. When it refreezes, it can cause an ice dam, which can lead to water damage inside your home or possibly even a roof collapse.
• Add weather stripping around doors and caulk windows to guard against drafts and heat loss.
• Remove screens from windows, and install storm windows.

 
Your Utilities

Freezing temperatures can be especially damaging to your home’s water piping. Make sure your pipes are adequately prepared to withstand a cold snap and remember to take extra precautions if you are going to be leaving your home, including shutting off your water. 

• Check for water leaks and fix problems immediately; wrap water piping in UL-Listed heat tape and insulate if it is exposed in unheated areas such as garages, crawl spaces or attics. Use only thermostatically controlled heat tape if your water piping is plastic and follow the manufacturer's installation instructions.
• Learn how to shut off your water and know where your pipes are located in case they do freeze; you may be able to prevent water damage.

 
Your Winter Safety Measures

As you prepare for winter, following are some further safety measures that are especially important during the cold season.

• Trim trees and remove dead branches so they do not damage your home or injure someone if they fall because of ice, snow or wind.
• Keep gutters clear of leaves, sticks and other debris to ensure melting snow can drain properly. Make sure downspouts direct water away from the foundation.
• Repair steps and handrails to make them safer in the ice and snow.
• Check smoke detectors, fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries to ensure they are operating properly.

  
Your Key Supplies and Equipment

The first storm of the year can come sooner than you think. Stock up early and get key equipment, like snow blowers and generators, in good working condition long before you need them, so you can be prepared to enjoy what the season has to offer.

• Make sure you have snow shovels and a roof rake on hand. Stock your ice melting compound to melt ice on walkways.
• Have your snow blower and generator serviced and any necessary repairs made.
• Keep fuel for snow blowers and generators in approved safety containers and away from heat or flame producing devices. Do not store fuel in your basement.