January Home Maintenance Check List

Keeping up a home requires a lot of time and effort. During the winter when it’s cold outside or raining it can be a challenge to keep up with the maintenance. However there are always plenty of indoor projects that keep your home running smoothly. Here is a list of tasks that are often forgotten about, yet are easy to do and don’t take a lot of time.

1. Change water and icemaker filters - When filters become clogged, the flow of water slows
   
   and can allow mold to form inside the filter.
2. Clear the drains in bathroom sink & tub - Hair and debris can build up in your bathroom drains and let dirty water to stand in your sink or tub, allowing mold and mildew to grow both in the basin and in the pipes.
3. Clean or replace shower heads – watch the video. 
4. Check your furnace filter monthly in the winter to see if it needs replacing.
5. Seal air leaks- Check for leaks that could be allowing heated air to rise into your attic. Also check around dryer vents, pipes and where electrical wiring enters the house. Add more attic insulation to keep warm air downstairs where it belongs.
6. Make sure your attic has adequate ventilation so the air in the attic is a similar temperature as the air outside.
7. Compile or update home inventory - Record purchase dates and sources on your spreadsheet, and attach receipts and any appraisal statements to the inventory. Or, you can scan relevant document and attach them digitally to your inventory spreadsheet.
8. Inspect furniture, cabinets and vanities for loose knobs, pulls and hinges. Tighten or repair as
   
   necessary. Lubricate squeaky door hinges with lightweight machine oil. Free sticky doors by trimming edges or shimming hinges with thin pieces of cardboard.
9. Look for pests seeking shelter

a.    Seal any cracks where pests enter.

b.   Empty compost and garbage frequently.

c.    Keep food covered and put away; keep counters clean.

d.    Fix leaky pipes quickly.

e.    Pour boiling water down bathroom and kitchen drains monthly, preventing the buildup of bacteria-laden sludge; scrub removable drain covers weekly.

f.     Check basement, attic, crawl spaces and the back of cupboards and cabinets for mice droppings or holes. If you find evidence, install traps immediately or call a pest-control service.

g.    Pick up and dispose of outdoor pet waste promptly; turn compost piles frequently.

Saving Money On Your Utility Bills This Winter

Baby its cold outside!  If you are considering a home in Savannah’s historic district you might be looking for ways to keep your charmer nice and toasty this season.  It’s no secret that homes in the historic district offer unrivaled physical beauty and old century charms but how do you take advantage of that while keeping your heating bill low?

The first step is to figure out what you’re working with.  The previous owners may have already taken measures to lower the energy costs.  You can simply ask them what they've done but you can also ask them to take a look at the previous year’s energy bill for the home.  Yes, the cost may be higher than a new home but don’t let that turn you away.  There are certainly things you can do to lower that bill. 

1. Many companies like Georgia Power offer free in-home energy audits.  These audits will show you ways to save up to 30% on your annual energy bill. 
2.  Insulating your attic and sealing off any attic entry areas is especially important.  I’m not an insulation expert but I know there are a few options for making this happen.  You can pay someone to help or you can try on your own.  In my own home I used a spray foam that expanded which I purchased at Lowes.  I used this to seal up the entry to the attic to keep air from leaking.  I also used it in areas around the parameter of my home where I found air leaking. 
3. While you are insulating you should take a look at other areas where air might escape like door frames, window frames, electrical outlets, cable lines, dryer vent pass through areas, outdoor faucets, and holes in the garage.
4. If within your budget, replace old windows and doors and choose energy efficient options.
   
   Keep in mind that windows and doors embody the original architecture of the home and the historical feeling should be preserved.  In fact some areas require the historical look to be preserved.  If this added expense isn't in the cards for you at this time there are other things you can do to lower your heating cost.  One option is adding storm shutters to windows or you can add window stripping.  You can also buy a door snake.  It sounds scary but it’s not and it will help keep air from leaking under your entry ways.
5. Home automation systems are a wise addition to historical homes.  They can help you save money by conserving electricity and optimizing your heating system.  The list of what can be done via home automation is pretty impressive but you can make a big impact by using your system to adjust the temperature of your home automatically.  Allow it to turn the heat off while you are at work, make the house cooler before you go to bed, and warm it back up before you rise in the morning.  Some 56% of the energy used in a typical home goes to heating and cooling so automation alone can make a large impact.

We wish you luck in your home search and a toasty winter season!

Article written by Security Gem: About SecurityGem.com

SecurityGem.com is a resource for home security information and home security reviews. 

Sources: www.securitygem.com, epa.gov

BRRRR Here a Few Tips To Save Some Energy

Suddenly winter here is here and I find myself standing in front of my thermostat disbelieving the temperature reading of the room, and wondering should I push the heat setting up. We all want to be budget conscious where our utility bills are concerned, but we also want to be comfortable in our home. Here are a few affordable things that can be done to winterize our homes.

•       Block Air Leaks. To find these leaks use an incense stick and walk around the house holding it in front of suspect areas such as windows, door frames, recessed lighting, and electrical outlets. Use door sweeps to close the space at the bottom of doors, and apply caulk to doors and windows where needed. Use outlet gaskets to the electrical outlets
•       Add More Insulation. The rule of thumb is a home needs a minimum of 12 inches of insulating in your attic. If you can see the ceiling joists you know you don’t have enough because a joist is at most 10 or 11 inches. When laying atop of existing insulation don’t use the insulation with the paper backing as the paper acts as a vapor barrier which can cause moisture problems.
•       Check the Furnace. Schedule a maintenance check for your furnace/HVAC unit. Also you should be changing the filter on your furnace on a regular basis. (monthly)
•       Clean and Check The Duct-work. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a home with central heating can lose up to 60% of its heated air before that air reaches the vents if duct-work is not well-connected and insulated, or if it must travel through unheated spaces. Make sure all the connections to the vents are snug, and that none of the duct-work is pinched reducing airflow. If the duct-work has not been cleaned in several years, then it’s time to schedule this. All the gunk that floats down the vents into the duct-work can reduce airflow in addition to causing respiratory problems.
•       Fix Leaky Windows. If you have storm windows, definitely put them in. If you don’t you can purchase a window insulator kit. The kit is a sheet of plastic that you ‘shrink wrap’ to the interior of your window using a hair dryer to tighten the seal. This can be removed in the spring. Replace old caulking with a fresh bead along the exterior of the windows. Watch this
  
  1 minute video on window caulking from the Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford website.
•       Reverse Your Ceiling Fan. This is one of the easiest things that can be done. Don’t waste the heat, push it back down by simply switching the direction of your ceiling fan.
•       Wrap the Pipes. Check for pipes that pass through unheated spaces that are not insulated and wrap them with either fiberglass insulation or rubber sleeves.

Four Areas That Can Affect A Home's Curb Appeal

The housing market is making its recovery and there's a buzz of activity in our real estate office. Now may be the time to make the long awaited housing move. Whether you are buying, selling or updating a home here are some things to consider regarding a home's curb appeal.

A home's front entry is the focal point of curb appeal. In addition to making a statement a front door should reflect the home's interior. The entryway should have some style, updated light fixtures, a handsome entry door lockset, a wall mounted mailbox are elements that create a style.

Outdoor lighting can make a huge impact in the appeal of a home in addition to providing safety and security. Lighting can be used to illuminate a path, accent trees or landscaping.

Now is a good time to do some gardening, so create a new planting bed that will blossom in spring with lots of color and contrast. Fall is the time to plant bulbs they are e A seasonal

container garden adds a great deal of charm and warmth to a home. Create a garden around your mailbox for an inviting and cheerful look.  A tidy landscape is an indication of a homeowner cares for their home. So sellers, tidy up your yards by trimming hedges, edge around walkways and curbs, and add some annuals and fresh mulch to gardens. A flower box under a window or hanging off a porch railing can really be a welcoming feature.

One way to infuse a home with rich historical flavor lay in the details, such as molding, wainscoting, crown molding. Frame a window with molding or shutters then paint them with a contrasting color for emphasis. These details are a small investment and well worth the payoff.

How to Stop Condensation in the Crawl Space Under Your Home

If after all the rain we have had this summer you have developed some mold or condensation problem in the crawlspace under your home. Here are a few suggestions to help solve this problem.

Watch a one minute video from Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford plus a here a few more tips:

• Assess Damage: To get an idea of what you are going to have to do you need to check out the amount, and extent, of the mold problem. If you decide not to remove the wood completely these are your next steps. If you are concerned about having found some mold here is a video , from the National Mold Resource Center, that talks about physical symptoms of having been exposed to black mold.
•  Prepare For Mold Removal: It's important for you to wear a toxic chemical protective suit, and mask.
• Apply Mold Removal Chemicals: This is generally for a small mold outbreak. It will kill the mold, but you will still have to remove it from the surface with a scraper.
  
• Blast Mold: If the mold has been able to grow for some period of time before you noticed it then you will need to use a surface blaster.

If you want to stay away from all these problems, then have a mold inspection before buying a home. If you are a homeowner already then you should either inspect the home yourself or have a professional do it every few years. This will help you to eradicate an infestation at an early stage.

Prevention: Once you have gotten rid of the mold you have here are some steps towards prevention.

• Not Enough Vent Space: You may need more ventilation in the crawl space. The rule of thumb is to have at least one square foot of vent area for every 150 square feet of crawl space.
• Inadequate Cross Ventilation: You also need to have adequate cross ventilation with vents on all sides of your house, not just two.
• No Plastic Ground Cover: The plastic sheeting should be covering the ground of the crawl space, to keep moisture from coming up through the soil, not stapled beneath the insulation.
• Leaky or Un-insulated Ductwork: If you have ductwork for your HVAC system under your house, have it inspected for any air leaks, and to make sure it has enough insulation to prevent condensation on the outside of the ducts when the air conditioner is running during the summer.
• Add Fan Venting: If you’re still having problems, have a small fan installed on one of the vents with a humidistat set to turn the fan on at 70% relative humidity to remove excess moisture from your crawl space. Be careful that you have no mold in your crawlspace before installing fans. Other wise the fans will simply blow the mold spores onto other surfaces.