Blog Articles and Company News

Seasonal Home Maintenance for Fall and Winter

There will soon be a chill in the air and the leaves will take on a rainbow of new colors. Autumn is a wonderful time to take care of the home and prepare it for the chilly months ahead. Seasonal home maintenance keeps your home in good condition so it will endure for years to come. There are many things a home needs to stay in good condition and be able to keep you and your family safe and warm. A checklist is important to make sure no important tasks are overlooked.

Fall Cleaning

Fall is a time to weather prep your home for the cooler temperatures to come. Look at your doors and windows to see if there is any wear and tear, gaps, or weather stripping. If you have a chimney, this is a great time to invest in a chimney sweep. Proper insulation is integral to keeping heating temperatures down. Improving the home’s insulation lowers your utility bill. If you have an attic, consider adding or updating the insulation.

As you transition from summer to fall, you will move from warm weather to cooler temperatures. Have a professional come in to check the heating system. You will also want to clean vents and inspect the filters for replacement or cleaning.

The outdoor spaces will need a reset after summer. Clean and store your patio furniture, and make sure to clear any branches, leaves, and debris from the yard. Garden hoses should be disconnected and drained before storage. Lastly, clean any planters and pots and make sure your garden tools are properly stored so they do not rust or break.

Winter Cleaning

With the drop in temperatures, winter is a time to stay inside and get cozy. You should focus on keeping your home warm and saving on energy costs. Make sure your furnace is ready to go and replace any filters. It is smart to layer plastic film over windows to keep drafts out and to wrap vulnerable pipes up, so they do not burst. Pay attention to any drafts. This could mean you need extra insulation, need to add storm windows, or may need to invest in insulation updates. Any water valves that lead outdoors should be turned off.

Every season has its list of cleaning to-dos. Regular upkeep is an easy way to protect your property's value. When you regularly inspect and clean your heating and cooling system, it will properly run and save you a lot of money and stress on repairs. Your home is your sanctuary. Committing to regular seasonal home maintenance is an easy way to enhance your quality of life.

By Justice Homes 9-8-2021

Things That Should Be On Every Homeowners Monthly To Do List

At Justice Homes, we are delighted to help families get into their dream homes. But even a dream home can become a nightmare if not cared for properly. That is why we wanted to share a few items that homeowners should inspect and give a little TLC to once a month.

Check Your Attic For Leaks

A leaking roof can go unnoticed for quite some time if you never venture into your attic. And this can have devastating consequences. A leaking roof can damage structural supports, insulation, and create the perfect breeding ground for mold. Take advantage of your next rainstorm to inspect your attic for any leaks.

Trim Landscaping Around Your AC Units

It’s easy to let your landscaping get away from you when you’re enjoying beautiful weather, but it is important to tend to shrubs and things at least monthly. It is especially important to give attention to any shrubs you may have surrounding your AC unit. Overgrown shrubs can encroach on and obstruct the air flow from your unit. Resulting in your system having to work harder than it should or even suffer damage.

Check Your HVAC Filters

While you’re checking on your air conditioning unit, why not check the filters for your HVAC system too? Ideally these should be replaced once a season or four times a year, but the presence of fires or storms can cause them to get clogged faster. That’s why it's not a bad idea to pull them out and check them for clogs and debris on a monthly basis. It’s a quick and easy thing to do.

Dust Refrigerator Grills

Have you ever dusted your refrigerator grills? If so, great job! If you didn’t realize this was a chore you needed to do, however, now is a great time to start. You can typically find these grills either on the top or the bottom of your refrigerator and they detach so that you can gain access to the cooling coils and compressor of your fridge. Over time, these grills can accumulate dust and block the cool air flow. Ultimately resulting in your cooling system burning out. A quick wipe down once a month should add to the longevity of your refrigerator.

Clean Your Garbage Disposal

Dinner after dinner, your garbage disposal is there to help you clean up the mess. Needless to say, a lot of nasty things get passed down the old pipes. To keep it smelling fresh, once a month clean your garbage disposal by pouring a half a cup of baking soda and a full cup of vinegar down the drain. Let that work together for a few minutes and then flush with boiling water.​

In the end, making preventative maintenance a priority will ensure that your home stays a safe haven and does not become a burden. And splitting these items up throughout the month will ensure that chores do not pile up and become overwhelming. In fact, it is not a bad idea to make a physical check list of monthly to-do items either on paper or on your phone so that you do not forget!

By Justice Homes 9-3-2021