Repair & Improve

2007 August Money Pit Weekend To-do Projects

Tips to get your home in tip top shape for the season

by Leslie Segrete

Yes, we know you are still sweating bullets right now and almost everyone is, or knows someone who is, on vacation.  But as the summer season begins it’s slow fade into fall, it’s time to start thinking about projects you can do to prep your house for the chillier weather ahead.  Here’s where to begin.

Weekend #1 August 4 and 5

Don’t get stuck out in the cold this winter, make sure your garage will open when you need it.

Your garage is always a handy place to store away your tools, sports equipment, holiday decorations, and anything else you want to hide away. We have even heard rumors of a few fortunate folks who manage to keep their cars in there!  But for all this service, you garage asks for very little in return so be sure to keep the door and opener in top operating condition by doing some seasonal maintenance. 

First, make sure the tracks, springs, and any other moving parts are well lubricated with motor oil.  Apply the oil with a rag and wipe onto the part making sure to wipe away any excess oil.  Next take a look at those big, heavy, springs and make sure that there is a safety wire run inside of the spring so that if it were to break, the spring will snap back on the wire and not fly off and hurt someone.

Check the opener’s safety reverse system.  Place a 2 x 4 under the door and close it.  The door should hit the 2 x 4 and then open back up again.  There should also be an electric eye that protects the bottom edge of the door.  Try closing the door and then breaking the electric eye’s path to be sure it is functioning.  By the way, if you door opener is older and doesn’t have at least these two safety systems, replaced it!

Finally, clean the weather stripping along the frame of the door and at the bottom with a cleanser made for vinyl to prevent it from drying out.  Wash the exterior of the door using a mild detergent and stiff brush or power washer.  If need be, remove any flaking paint, sand, prime, and apply a new coat of paint.  A nice bright color will keep you thinking of summer even as the snow is falling!

Weekend #2 August 11 and 12

Adding attic insulation now can help you save money in the fall and winter by making your home more energy efficient

Just like your body looses heat through its top most point your head, your home looses heat through the attic.  The folks at the EPA’s Energy Star Program recommend at least 12 inches of insulation (R-38) of insulation for most homes. Homes in colder climates should have around 16 inches (R-49).  The higher the R-Value the better the insulation’s ability to keep heated air from escaping, keeping you warmer in your home and your energy bills down.  To find out exactly how much insulation you should have in your attic, check the website for Energy Star at www.energystar.gov.  By answering a couple of questions about your home’s heating system and climate where you live, Energy Star will calculate the right level of insulation for your part of the country.

If you need to add more, here are a few tips.  Make sure to wear safety goggles, a dust mask, and to protect your skin from contact with the fiberglass.  First fill the joist cavities until the insulation reaches the top of the joist, then if more insulation is required to roll it out across the top of the joists, perpendicularly.  Make sure not to block soffit or eaves vents and keep the insulation at least 3” away from ceiling fixture unless they are specified as “IC”, which means they are rated for “insulation contact.” 

For even more energy savings, the Energy Star site provides tips on finding an energy auditor, a pro to help search out all the ways your home loses energy and deliver s a plan of attack to seal it up.  Being energy efficient isn’t just great for your wallet; it also helps our environment by reducing your demand for heat.

Weekend #3 August 18 and 19

Tired of holding your breath when it comes time to take out the trash?

The garbage can is probably the most under rated appliance in your home.  Although place some pretty nasty things in there, it does it job of storing life’s leftovers right in the middle of where you live, eat, and breathe.  Here’s a tip to help you maintain the trashes’ stealthy persona.  Once a month take all indoor trash cans outside for a thorough cleaning.  Mix up ¾ of a cup of bleach into one gallon of water and wash the interior of the garbage can as well as the handles and lid.  To make sure the bleach and water solution has time to kill bacteria and odors that could be harmful to your family’s health, let it sit for at least 5 minutes and then rinse very well.

Weekend #4 August 25 and 26

Protect your home from robbery

The summer is drawing to an end and that means it will be getting darker earlier, meaning that burglars intent on stealing your stuff get to start their work day all that much earlier!  To thwart those plans, go around your property and look for potential entry points.  For instance if you have a lot of shrubbery in the front of your home that can provide a burglar cover as they break in, trim back the bushes to keep the entry point exposed.  Replace some existing landscaping to plants that have thorns for a natural way to prevent burglary.  Some lights around the property should be placed on motion sensors so they will come on to provide you safety when you return home and also scare away anyone who doesn’t belong.  Make sure the doors to your home have secure locking systems and never give the key to your home when leaving car keys anywhere, such as a repair shop, valet, etc. You will never know if someone makes a copy so play it smart.  If you have travel plans make sure you stop newspaper delivery and ask a neighbor to get the mail and any packages that might be delivered in your absence. 

If you can afford to do so have an alarm system installed that will also monitor fire and carbon monoxide in the home to keep you safe on all levels.

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