We don’t have to worry about snow bomb cyclones in sunny SoCal, but just because we have the mildest winters in the country doesn’t mean we get a pass on seasonal home maintenance chores.
After you have packed away the holiday decorations, focus your efforts on these top three tasks for your January “to do” list.
We spend more time inside over the winter, so make sure heat and air in your home flows freely and efficiently for optimal air quality and safety.
First and foremost, check and change your furnace filters, especially if you live with pets. Fire up the furnace and inspect the flame. It should be a steady blue, not a flickering yellow or orange which could mean combustion problems.
Schedule a tune up by a licensed HVAC service if you haven’t done so in the last couple of years. Clean air return grills and registers of dust, dirt and pet hair that may impede airflow. Inspect exposed ducting in the attic for peeling duct tape, loose fittings, and collapsed or torn sections of flexible ducts.
In the laundry, clean the clothes dryer vent and exhaust duct of lint to reduce the risk of a dryer fire. Check the outside vent while the dryer is running to make sure exhaust air is escaping. If you do not feel a strong discharge of warm air, the vent or duct may be blocked.
Prepare for winter rains by cleaning the gutters. Even if you cleaned rain gutters in the fall, do it again. It’s a dirty job and no one wants to do it, but proper gutter maintenance will prevent costly water damage to your property. Gutters may develop leaks or be improperly pitched towards the downspouts.
Get out and look at how the water is flowing through the gutters and downspouts during the next heavy rain to see if they are doing the job. Downspouts should direct water a few feet away from the house. Hire a handyman to clean and make repairs if necessary.
January is the best time to get organized and declutter. File receipts for any property upgrades you made in 2019 away from tax receipts that may eventually get shredded.
Capital improvements to your personal residence can be used to lower your taxable gain when you sell. Find inspiration and ideas for decluttering your home in Marie Kondo’s book on the life changing magic of tidying up. Out with the old and in with the New Year!
Adriana Donofrio deasypennerpodley Glendora (626) 926-9700 adonofrio@dppre.com
