The story below is from our January/February 2022 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
Get your house in order in 2022.
It’s a new year, and the crisp calendar pages can be motivating for tackling ambitious plans and lofty resolutions. A tangible resolution is to evaluate your home, and get your financial and physical house in good working order. When was the last time you had the roof checked, or glanced at your homeowner’s insurance policy?
We talked with local experts about your home’s systems and insurance to ensure that all are in top shape, and we’ve devised a list of simple maintenance items that you can add to your 2022 calendar. While it’s tempting to ignore these things until they become a problem, you’ll enjoy the peace of mind that comes from being proactive, so check these boxes and you’ll be on your way to a great year at home.
Have an expert certify your chimney and fireplace
If you have an open fireplace, you should have a chimney professional evaluate your chimney every two years, and if you have a wood stove, every year. Ronnie Hall of Chimney Works says that a regular check will prevent a chimney fire or water from causing major damage to your home. The last thing you need when you want to warm your toes in front of a cozy fire is to have the fire department on your front lawn.
Hall notes that next to fire, water damage is the second biggest issue. “A well-maintained chimney cap and masonry in good shape will prevent water from leaking in, and animals from getting inside the chimney,” he says.
If you have a gas fireplace, an annual service call will keep it in good working order. A technician will disassemble the logs, clear the dust from the logs and the pilot assembly, and start the pilot light. Lolly Quigley, general manager at Dixie Products in Roanoke, who sells and maintains gas fireplaces, says gas logs last approximately 15 years. “If you think yours are near the end, every set should have a data plate attached to the burner that gives you information on when they were manufactured,” she says. If you purchased your home from a previous owner, it’s a good idea to check the data plate so you can plan for replacement.
Keep your plumbing in plum order
In winter, you appreciate a hot shower, so keep the hot water flowing by checking your water heater, or call a plumber to do it for you. Every two years, sediment should be drained from it to keep it working properly, and the jets also need to be cleaned. While keeping the hot water flowing indoors, you’ll want to stop freezing water from bursting pipes and ruining hoses outdoors. Remove garden hoses in winter, and if you store them outside, be sure to drain all of the water out of them first. If you notice a dripping pipe outside, be sure to have it fixed right away before the freeze and thaw cycle causes major damage.
Drips indoors should be nipped, too. A dripping faucet can waste a surprising amount of water, adding dollars to your monthly bill. Left alone, a drip will get worse over time and can lead to a more expensive fix. A simple plastic drip tray underneath your washing machine, refrigerator and water heater can catch drips before an undetected leak causes damage. Walk your home and check your refrigerator, dishwasher and under each sink for any signs of a problem, like warped cabinetry and musty smells. You may not open the under sink cabinet in a guest bathroom often, or pull the refrigerator out from the wall regularly, but it’s worth the occasional inspection—add to your calendar for every six months.
Do a health check on your roof
If it’s time to take down the Christmas lights, it’s also a good chance to take an up close look at your roof. Are the shingles intact? Are they curling or buckling? Is it sagging, or is the flashing (the metal that covers curves and edges on the roof) damaged? If so, it’s a good time to have a roofing company come out for an evaluation. Big Lick Roofing and several other local outfits offer evaluations free of charge—many homeowner’s insurance companies advise a yearly roof check, even if problems aren’t readily visible. Often, small and inexpensive repairs can extend the life of your roof and prevent further problems from developing. After a winter snow or ice storm, it’s a good idea to look for any water leaking into the attic, which is also a clue that the roof is having issues. In winter, ice can damage your roof by thawing and refreezing as temperatures fluctuate. As ice melts, water seeps into small holes in the roof and when temperatures dip again and the water freezes, it expands, creating larger holes.
Big Lick Roofing says that a roof more than 20 years old and having damage issues will need to be replaced. Depending on the size of your roof and it’s structure (a home with many roof lines will be more expensive than a simple roof), it can be several thousand dollars, so knowing your roof’s age and planning for a possible replacement a few years in advance is helpful.
Keep HVAC issues at bay
In the winter months, you’re putting a lot of stress on your heating system, and for less than $100, you can be sure that it’s running efficiently and safely. Wisler Plumbing and Air, for example, charges $79 for a tune-up, which includes carbon monoxide inspection, ignition check, lubrication of moving parts, new air filter, and adjustment of fan speeds, oxygen ratios and pressure levels. It’s also a chance to replace any worn out parts before they cause damage to the system. It’s best to put it on your calendar for next October, before you run the furnace for the first time, and an air conditioning check for April, before summer’s heat is here.
While it’s smart to hire a professional at least once a year, the most helpful thing you can do to maintain your HVAC systems is to regularly change the air filters—every three months is a good target. Experts recommend choosing a filter rated MERV 7-11. More expensive air filters that are touted for filtering allergens will reduce the airflow and put an unnecessary strain on your system, negatively impacting efficiency.
Evaluate your home insurance policy
Home values have soared in the last 18 months, and you may be wondering whether your home is still adequately covered, should you have a catastrophic loss, since it’s current value may be significantly more than you paid for it. Amanda Christiansen, an agent with State Farm, explained how it works at her company. “When I write a policy on a house, I’m not writing insurance based on the amount of the loan, or the tax appraisal, I’m looking at what State Farm would have to pay to rebuild it,” she says. Christiansen notes that the company’s homeowner policies may increase based on inflation, so many people this year will open up their renewal notice and find that the cost has crept up, due to the increased cost of goods, like lumber. In short, materials and labor cost more than they ever have, and the insurance industry is not immune to that. However, not all companies work the same, and Christiansen says you should definitely take a look at your policy, and talk with your insurance agent if you have any questions.
If you buy something expensive, like art or antiques, or put an addition on or invest significant money in your property, it’s a good time to talk with your agent about what is covered. Christiansen advises to take inventory of your home, and store those photos and a listing in a cloud, or in a file outside of your residence. “If you have a loss, it’s very hard to remember what is there in a stressful time,” Christiansen says.
Your Easy Guide to Home Maintenance
Winter
Change HVAC air filters
Check the roof after ice and snowstorms for leaks
Analyze homeowner’s insurance coverage, cost and renewal date
Create an inventory of property in your home, store in safe location
Check pipes, faucets and appliances for water leaks
Spring
Change HVAC air filters
Call HVAC professional to clean, evaluate A/C system
Schedule plumber to drain sediment from/inspect water heater
Summer
Change HVAC air filters
Check pipes, faucets and appliances for water leaks
Fall
Change HVAC air filters
Disconnect outside hoses, drain them of water, store
Call HVAC professional to clean, evaluate heating system
Schedule chimney sweep* or gas fireplace cleaning
(*every two years)
The story above is from our January/February 2022. For more stories, subscribe today or view our FREE digital edition. Thank you for supporting local journalism!
