As summer draws to a close, Northern California prepares to welcome the arrival of what may the most beautiful time of year in Wine Country. With temperatures slowly dropping and the days growing shorter, it’s time to get ready for the season change! At Annadel Builders Inc., we are committed to providing custom home building services in Northern California with a standard of quality that stands the test of time—and the weather. Help maintain the integrity of your home by performing these annual maintenance tasks before it’s tested by the elements.
- Have gutters cleaned – Each year your drains divert thousands of gallons of water from your home’s exterior. However, when leaves, debris, and sticks begin to accumulate and cause overflow, it can lead to rust damage and corrosion on exterior surfaces. Get ahead this year and have your gutters cleared before leaves begin to fall, then have them covered them with a mesh guard to keep debris out for good.
- Smoke and CO detectors – As a rule, it’s good policy to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every spring and fall season. Replace batteries, vacuum filters, and test the alarm by the pressing the test button or by holding a smoke source near the filter.
- Weather-strip doors – As temperatures begin to drop, energy bills go up. Use your heating system to maximize efficiency by ensuring that all the gaps around your doors and windows are sealed. There are several options for sealing. The first, V strip, also known as tension seal, is a plastic or metal strip folded into a “V” shape that opens and fills gaps once inserted. Other options include felt, foam tape, door sweeps, and tubular rubber, vinyl, or silicone.
- Drain water heaters – Over time, sediments accumulate on the bottom of your water tank. This build-up can cause drain blockage and reduce capacity. Depending on the mineral content of your water, both gas and electric water heaters should be flushed every one to two years.
- Prep chimneys – Check your chimney for build-ups and/or blockages. Look for creosote, a flammable by-product of burned wood, and have a chimney sweep remove any deposits approaching 1/8-inch or thicker. Ensure that the flue cap and damper are fully functional and check to make sure there are no bird-nests or other blockages accumulated in the flue.
- Roof inspection – There’s nothing worse than a leaky roof during the rainy season. Head off any potential problems by giving your roof a thorough inspection for cracks and wind damage. Look for valleys around air vents and chimneys, missing, curled, or damaged shingles, and exposed or misshapen metal stripping.
