On real estate

Home maintenance tasks should be completed each season to prevent structural damage, save energy, and keep your home’s systems running properly.

Here in SoCal, our seasonal shifts are subtle, but fall and winter mean the hopeful return of rain after months of sunshine, and certain tasks will prepare your house for the change in weather. Here are some key maintenance tasks that should be on your “to do” list for the end of the year.

Make sure your furnace is ready for the cold weather. Schedule a HVAC maintenance appointment with your heating and air professional to check all fuel connections, burner combustion, and the heat exchanger. Change the filters. Clean out the return air grates with a vacuum cleaner brush.

Check your drainage systems to make sure they are carrying as much moisture away from the house as possible. If you have a surface drain installed in your lawn or patio get out the garden hose and run water through the system to make sure there are no blockages. Test gutters and downspouts this way as well. Water is enemy #1 of both raised and slab foundations.

Clear and inspect the roof. Debris can trap water and cause sagging and rotting that lead to leaks. If you can’t get up on the roof yourself call a roof professional for an inspection and recommendations for a winter tune up. Inspect roof shingles and flashings before the rains arrive.

Roof shingles bake in the hot summer sun which degrades their granular coating, particularly on the southern and western sides of the house. Roof flashings seal off surfaces by chimneys, attic and plumbing vents, and should be checked for gaps, cracks and holes. Have the roofer replace missing or damaged shingles and reseal flashings.

Prune trees and shrubs that can damage roofs and stucco siding by trapping moisture near the house, scraping surfaces, and dropping limbs. As temperatures cool, take measures to prevent roof rats and other critters from moving in. Branches that touch your house and overhang your roof are convenient on-ramps for invaders, so trim back branches so they are at least four feet from the house. Do a walk around the house to make sure all attic vents are properly sealed.

If your home has stucco that extends all the way to the ground, avoid foundation plantings altogether because the water necessary to maintain them can wick into the stucco and cause damage. Planter beds that hold winter rains can cause water penetration into the house and foundation.

Time to paint and spruce up your front entrance. Holidays are just around the corner and you know you want to add some pop to your curb appeal! Little goblins and guests will be knocking on your door very soon---better wipe the windows, paint your front door, repair cracks and lay out a welcome mat.

Adriana Donofrio Podley Properties Glendora (626) 926-9700 adrianad@podley.com

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