For a beautiful, bountiful summer, start your preparations in April! Run through our maintenance checklist, then start a list of your own of all of the things you’d like to accomplish next season.
Test all of your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Clean your window screens with a bristle brush, a mild detergent and a garden hose.
Check for sales on winter maintenance equipment like snow shovels, generators, snow blowers, etc.
Prepare your winter equipment for storage and your gas powered lawn equipment for use.
Inspect your home’s exterior for signs of rot. Use a small awl to probe for any soft spots on railings, window sills, and posts.
Prepare to Grill! Grills can be cleaned with soapy water and a brass bristle brush. You may need to also clean the gas hose, and don’t forget about the drip tray. See your manufacturer’s instructions.
Re-caulk open joints around windows and doors, and replace weather stripping where worn.
Clean your range hood and either clean or replace the filter.
It’s still winter and we have the snowy forecasts to prove it. Snow and fluctuating temperatures create the recipe for ice dam formation. What exactly is it that causes them? Well, if there is snow on your roof and you have a “heat leak” (a spot where there’s not enough insulation and the heat from the house is escaping), the heat will actually start to melt the snow around it. The water will run down the roof, but with the low temperatures it will then refreeze forming an ice dam. The more snow that melts, the more water that runs, the bigger the dam gets. Once the temperatures rise and all of the snow starts to melt, water will back up behind the dam and can leak into your home underneath your roof shingles. We still have plenty of winter left to add to this potential recipe for disaster, but you can avoid the costly damage that can become of this mix by monitoring two simple things. Ice dam formation and clear drainage paths.
You’ve probably heard about ice dams in the news, especially in winter of 2015, but like many other common property dangers you may not be aware of the actual danger they may pose to your home. Reconsider the “it won’t happen to me” idea and do the following to protect your investment.
Make sure your gutters and downspouts are clear of ice and debris. Regardless of the formation of ice dams or not, the snow is eventually going to melt and the water will have to be directed away from the house. If you’re already following our monthly maintenance to do lists, you’ve already made sure that the spouts are directing water at least 3′ away from your foundation.
Clear your roof of the snow and ice. You probably don’t even know that you have a heat leak in your roof until you see the ice dam form. You’ll have to address the insulation later, but first things first, remove the dam that has already formed. Although the safest option is to hire a snow removal professional, you can (carefully) remove it yourself by using a roof rake, not a shovel, to push the snow off without damaging your shingles. Don’t stand underneath where any icicles or dams may fall, avoid contact with your electrical wires, and make sure someone else is around just in case you need some help.
Melt a channel to direct the water. Another option for existing dams is to create drainage paths in the ice for when they start to melt. Fill a large sock with a melting agent such as calcium chloride and place it directly on the dam perpendicular to your gutter. The purpose of the sock is to control the release of the melting agent, and by laying the sock perpendicular to the gutter you’ll create a channel in the ice for the water to eventually drain through. If the dam runs the length of your roof, you’ll want to put several socks up there.
What if the ice dam and snow build up has already started a leak inside the house?
Mop up the standing water.
Put a bucket under the drip to collect any additional water.
Move your stuff away from the area to prevent it from also getting wet.
Call a professional to deal with the snow and ice dam.
Call a water mitigation professional to deal with the interior damage and drying. Even a small leak can make it’s way through several layers of your home, and everything will need to be completely dried to avoid mold growth.
Call your insurance agent or your insurance company to see if the damage will be covered under your policy. Find out what you’ll owe out of pocket for your deductible.
So, if you notice an ice dam forming on your roof, remove the snow and ice as soon as safely possible. If you can’t rake the dam off, create a channel for the water run trough it with a controlled melting agent. Take a picture and note where the dam formed, then address the insulation in that area to make sure it doesn’t form again.
Questions or concerns about any of these details and tips? Send us an e-mail! We’d love to hear from you!
It’s officially March! Here on Cape Cod, we know that means we’re in for some yo-yo weather patterns and little hints of spring. Start your monthly maintenance to-do’s early and enjoy what the rest of the month has to bring!
Daylight savings begins this month. Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you change your clocks.
Clean out your medicine cabinet. Safely dispose of dated prescriptions and over the counter medicines (please not in the toilet!). You might find a local collection drive by calling your police department.
Examine your washer machine hose washers. Shut off their water source, remove the supply hose, and replace any worn or damaged washers. Replace the hoses every 5 years.
Clean out the garage. Gather all hazardous materials to be tossed (paint thinners, cleaners, pesticides, etc.) and contact your city’s Department of Public Works to find out when the next collection date is.
Clean your refrigerator inside and out, removing all food, shelves, trays, and old ice from the ice maker. Replace the baking soda.
If you have one, test your sump pump by pouring water into it and making sure it pumps out.
Garbage disposal cleaner: Grind two trays of ice cubes made of 1 cup of vinegar and 1 gallon of water.
Planning on planting a garden this year? Start drafting up a diagram of the space you have. Research how much space each plant is going to need, and the best season to start them. You may even be able to start some of your seedlings indoors.
Winter Storm Kit – Emergency Preparation List – Power Outage Kit With many names, serving many purposes, preparing a kit with at least these items will give you peace of mind that you are prepared to care for yourself and others during emergencies and severe weather. There are plenty of other items that could be added, but this will be more than a great start. Our favorite way to store them? In large coolers, duffel bags and large back packs.
Water – 1 gallon per person, per day and at least 3 days’ worth.
Food – non-perishable, nutritional, easy to prepare and at least 3 days’worth. (PB & J Sandwiches, Nutritional Bars, Nutritional Shakes, Nuts, Seeds, Trail Mix, Dried Fruit)
Copies of your personal documents. (Medications, Birth/death certificates, Deeds/leases, Insurance policies, Emergency contact list (Family & Friends).
Extra cash – ATM machines may go down.
Pet supplies – leash, food, bowl, blanket.
Gas – Fill your vehicle tank & have extra for your generator.
Non-clumping kitty litter, sand, and/or rock salt for walkways & traction.
Fuel for alternative heating methods –coal & wood for stoves & fireplaces.
Cooler(s) to put your refrigerated and frozen food in. If power is lost, keep it full of ice and stored in the refrigerator, then avoid opening the refrigerator door as much as possible
Inspire everyone to update their kits by sharing a picture with us on Facebook or Twitter!
