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As the weather starts to cool, it’s a good time to prepare your home for winter.

Gutters
I usually start annual maintenance and upkeep before the rains come by cleaning out the gutters. It’s a lot easier to remove dead leaves and dry debris with a leaf blower before everything gets soggy and heavy. However, you’ll also want to clean the gutters after the first big rain when all the grit and more leaves from the roof slide into the gutters. Otherwise, that grit stays in the gutters all winter, holding the moisture from each rainstorm and eventually causing your gutters to rust. To make it easier to clean, they make a handy little u-shaped hose attachment that reaches up and over the lip of the gutter.

Property Walkabout
It’s also wise to walk around your house and look for signs of water or pest intrusion. Earlier this summer, a friend was mowing his lawn when he noticed a dark patch on the exterior wall outside his kitchen. Luckily for him he’s a curious fellow. He called a plumber who discovered that a small leak had been slowly allowing water to seep into the wall behind the sink and dishwasher. By the time my friend noticed the discoloration on the exterior wall, mold had started to form inside. Thankfully, the wood hadn’t deteriorated. It just needed to dry out. The plumber said that usually with these kinds of leaks, the homeowner is none the wiser until much more damage has occurred.

Pest Patrol
Signs of pests vary depending on the pest. Common household pests include everything from termites and rodents to cockroaches, spiders, and fleas. For an overview of what to look for as far as evidence from these and many other pests, visit staysafe.org/pest-control/what-are-the-signs-of-a-pest-infestation. Briefly, you’ll want to pay attention to any droppings or urine stains, gnaw marks, nesting materials, unpleasant odors and strange sounds (often at night).

Having a pest and fungus inspection from time to time can put your mind at ease and address any potential problems before they become more serious and expensive. You might also consider periodic professional home inspections, HVAC inspections, and roof inspections, which can pay for themselves in the money you save by preventing major home repairs later.

Schedule Maintenance in Advance
Remember, timing is everything. When the weather turns cold, everyone calls the HVAC contractor to fix their heater. Before the first big cold snap, test your heater to get a jump on everyone else’s service requests. I once discovered my heater wasn’t working, so I called the repairman, who discovered that ducting had gotten disconnected and I was heating the crawl space under my house. I’m sure all the critters appreciated it, but I wanted the heat coming into the house, not under it. If I had been required to wait too long for repairs, half the skunks, racoons, and rodents in Ukiah would probably have moved in under my house.

If you know you’ll need a new roof or other work that would be better if done during the spring or summer, call now and schedule the work for when the weather turns nice. Most contractors are willing to book months in advance and the good contractors fill their calendars quickly.

Once the Rains Come
Just as there are types of maintenance that are easier in the dry season, the same is true once it rains.

After the first rain is a good time to look for leaks inside the house. Be sure to check the ceilings inside closets, out in the garage, and under the house. Water under the house is especially bad. If a French drain or gutter cannot be used to route water away, consider installing a sump pump.

Before you build your first fire in the fireplace, be sure you have a chimney sweep clean out the chimney. Having had two chimney fires, I can tell you: it’s miserable, and when the Yule log causes a fire, it really ruins the holiday spirit. If you are in the unlucky position of having a chimney fire, simply throw a cup of water in the fireplace. I was astounded at how quickly a cup of coffee (it was all I had available) put out my fire. The liquid creates steam that immediately extinguishes the fire (as opposed to a hose from above where the water turns to steam before it reaches the fire).

You can also use the first rain as another reminder to change HVAC filters, inspect the hoses on your washing machine, and check your water heater to make sure there’s no rust around the bottom.

If you have questions about property management or real estate, please contact me at rselzer@selzerrealty.com or call (707) 462-4000. If you have an idea for a future column, share it with me and if I use it, I’ll send you a $25 gift certificate to Schat’s Bakery.