Winter is quickly approaching here in San Diego, so it’s time to tackle easy home maintenance projects that can save you a lot of money. I check many of these items around my own home to ensure it’s ready before the weather starts getting cold and rainy here in southern California.
Inspect Your Roof
A great place to start is the roof. Grab a ladder and walk around your roof to check for potential leaks. Focus on the flashing around chimneys and vent pipes. If you find gaps, apply a product like Henry Roof Patch. Henry offers several products in 1-gallon cans or caulking tubes, making it easy to buy only what’s needed. Consult a qualified roofing professional if you notice anything worse or can’t safely access your roof.
Check Your HVAC Filter
If you have a central HVAC system (also known as forced air or AC), open and inspect the furnace or main air handling unit. It’s typically located in a hallway or hallway ceiling in a central part of the house. If the air filter is dirty to any degree, replace it. A clean filter helps your central HVAC system operate with maximum efficiency, saving money and keeping the air clean.
Inspect Your Toilets
A leaking toilet flapper will quickly drive up your water bill. Luckily, they’re easy to replace and inexpensive for landlords to fix themselves. The replace a flapper, turn off the toilet water fill valve on the wall behind the toilet. Open the upper tank and flush to empty the tank, and remove the existing flapper. Take the flapper to your local hardware store and ask a clerk to recommend a replacement. Install the replacement, turn the water back on, and flush to ensure it’s working.
Check Your Washer/Dryer
If your washer supply hoses are old, I’d strongly recommend replacing them before they become brittle and cause catastrophic water damage. Checking your dryer exhaust vent is another easy task. Pull your dryer away from the wall and detach the vent duct from the dryer and the wall. Next, take a small brush and thoroughly clean inside the duct and any other lint build up you find. This ensures your dryer will operate efficiently, prevents fires, and saves money on your energy bill.
If you’re unsure how to perform these tasks or need help, feel free to contact our team for assistance. We can help ensure your home is in tip-top shape for the harshest winter conditions here in San Diego.