6 February 2024
By this time of year, it can feel like winter is winning the battle. However, February is a good time to tackle some indoor projects and maintenance tasks as long as we’re cooped up in our houses all season. We talked with our resident expert about some home maintenance items to focus on this month to help keep us in the fight.
A: There are not a lot of traditional seasonal home maintenance tasks to accomplish in February, but that’s not to say there aren’t plenty of maintenance to do around the house. Winter is a great time to focus on the interior tasks that are often forgotten about in the shadow of better-weather projects.
Whether you want to catch up on everyday maintenance or you’re looking for “things to do” during the colder months, you can always start by cleaning out the clothes dryer exhaust, cleaning the refrigerator coils or changing the HVAC filters. If you’re still looking to cross off tasks on your home maintenance checklist, try repairing the caulk or grout in the bath and kitchen, updating lighting fixtures or attempting DIY plumbing tasks, which are always considered time well spent.
A: February is a great time to poke your head up into the attic and check for signs of condensation clinging to the structure, which could be a sign of poor roof ventilation. While you’re up there, take a look for small discolored spots just below the roof decking. These can be early signs of water leaks.
Wintertime is also a great time to have an energy audit completed on your home by your energy provider. Usually, the service is free of charge, and it’ll give you insight into specific ways to save energy in your individual home.
A: Unfortunately for Massachusttes, it’s just too cold. However, now is a great time to repair any torn or broken window screens. When spring finally does arrive, you’ll be ready to let all that fresh air into your home without having to deal with insects.
A: Watch for signs of things to fix during warmer months. Often, we’re focused on getting through the winter without much thought about the well-being of the house. A couple of things to look out for during the winter are ice dams and condensation on windows or walls. Also, take note of where puddles and ice buildup forms on sidewalks and driveways. These are all good signs of things to address when summer rolls around.
A: We’re about halfway through the heating season. If your home has hydronic radiant heat, now is an excellent time to check the boiler for proper pressure and bleed the radiators to make sure they’re transferring heat as efficiently as possible.
With forced air heating systems, there’s little to do except to change the air filter regularly and keep an eye on it. If you haven’t yet installed a programmable thermostat, now’s a good time to do that.
Need help with your home projects? Contact Monnick Supply in Marlborough and Framingham, MA.
Source: forbes.com
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