The New Year is here, and that means new opportunities and new responsibilities, especially for home owners.  January is a time to start fresh, to create new plans, and to stick to them.  It’s also a time where most of us are stuck indoors, but that doesn’t mean that we’re stuck being unproductive.  Instead, extra time inside can mean extra attention to some of the finer details of your home, embodied in an assessment of what will need to be done once the weather warms.

Home Maintenance Issues to Look For

Looking on the year that’s passed, you’ve probably been extremely busy.  As a result, most of your home maintenance has probably fallen to the wayside.  With the New Year, you’re probably going to have a little vacation time, and although you’d probably like to just rest your off time may be the only chance you get to make a few simple inspections.

Check for Water Damage

The fall is a time where it rains more than usual, and the winter is a time where it snows.  Both of these events can lead to water damage, in and around your home.

To check for outdoor water damage, pick a sunny day, bundle up, and then simply walk the perimeter of your home.  Pay close attention to your roof, soffit, fascia, and gutters, as well as your windows and doors.  Water expands when it freezes and it’s very likely that your home has experienced water damage wherever you find accumulated ice.  Of course, midwinter January is far from the time to make the necessary repairs; so, instead make a mental note of any structural damage you find so that you can repair it or call a water damage restoration expert when the weather warms in spring.

To assess indoor water damage, you’ll want to go back inside, grab a hot cup of coco, and unthaw.  Then, check your windows and doors from the interior for any structural damage.  If there are any major issues, you will probably notice a draft.  Make sure to check every room in your home, and don’t forget about the basement!

Check for Fire Damage

If your home experienced a fire, it’s very likely that you already know about the damage.  What many homeowners overlook, however, is fire damage within a fire place.  Winter months like January are the times when fireplaces are most often used, and if they are not properly maintained fireplaces can lead to house fires that burn out of control.

If you’ve been using your fireplace throughout the winter, it’s important that you have it inspected some time in January.  A simple inspection can prevent fire damage or worse, and most fire damage restoration companies will perform a comprehensive inspection for you at a minimal cost.

Take Notes on Structural Damage and Get it Fixed in the Spring

Whatever you may notice during your January home maintenance inspection, make sure to take notes so that the problems can be addressed in the spring.  Once the weather warms up, you may find that you’re inspired enough to fix the issues on your own – but if you aren’t, there will surely be plenty of professional service providers ready and waiting to help assist you with your needs, be they water damage restoration, fire damage restoration, or any type of structural damage repair.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.