With the winter nearly half over
already, hopefully your HVAC in your home or property has been running
effectively and efficiently. We hope that you had your annual heating
maintenance at the beginning of the winter and that you are changing your
filters, as the manufacturer requires. If everything has gone well so far this
winter heating season for you that’s great! To continue on this path of success, you
may want to give your home or property a mid-winter check-up to ensure that all
things will continue to go as smoothly. What you want to look for this time of
year is water. Water can come into your house three ways: from the outside in,
from a source that is damaged inside the house, and water (in the form of
humidity) that is in the wrong amount and/or place in or under your house. To
safeguard that your home/property does not suffer water damage this season,
below are a few guidelines to follow.
Water Leaks from the
Outside - Rain dripping and snow melting where it shouldn’t be can be
damaging to the interior of your house/property. Be sure to check your gutters
and downspouts to make sure that they are clear of debris. Winter storms
cause a lot of small branches and twigs to fall that can collect in your gutter
system and clog. Also, make sure that your downspout is pointed away from your
house/property. Downspouts that are pointed toward your house can cause ground water
to collect in your crawl space or basement. Also, if you see small drips of
water after rain or snow on your window sills or on the inside, outer edges of
skylights, check the caulking and/or flashing to make sure they are in good
shape. If not, you may need to rework the seals in order to prevent future
leaks.
Water Leaks from the Inside - The cold weather causes things to contract, this is a
good time of year to check and see if your house/property has slow leaks under
the bathroom or kitchen sink, in the shower or tub, and in or under a major
appliance such as a water heater, dishwasher or washing machine. More often
that not leaks are very inexpensive to repair if discovered early enough,
however leaks that are ignored, over time, can cause significant damage.
Water in the Air - Also,
because your house/property is closed up during the winter months to keep heat
in, it is a great time to check to see if humidity is collecting in crawl
spaces and attics. If so, you may need to improve on your existing ventilation
system. You will also want to check to see if your bathroom exhaust fan is
working properly as well and not pushing humidity into places it shouldn’t
be.
Even though we are in the dead of winter right now and most people are thinking
about staying warm, it is very important to take a few minutes to check on the
above outlined that may save you money in the long run. If you notice a leak in
your house, give New York Boiler and Air Conditioning Repair a call. We offer
free estimate and are current running several deep discount programs that will
help you to save money.
