Winterizing your home is an essential part of routine maintenance for your property. Now that school is back in session, winter will be here before you know it! Here’s a checklist of tips and recommendations that will help lower utility costs, protect your home, and preserve the long-term value of your investment.
- Setting Your Thermostat to 68 Degrees – PG&E recommends setting your thermostat to 68 degrees, as each degree above 68 increases energy use by 3-5%. This will not only help lower your monthly utility bill from PG&E, but also keep your home warm during the winter.
- Spare the Air Day – Before starting a fire, be sure to check their website to confirm whether it is a Spare the Air Day: https://www.sparetheair.org/
- Evaluate Windows & Doors – It’s important to examine your windows and doors to determine if you need to add caulking around the windows or replace the weather stripping.
- Fireplace & Chimney Cleaning – Having your fireplace and chimney serviced annually is an important part of routine and preventative maintenance.
- Furnace Filter – Be sure to replace your furnace filter annually as part of your routine maintenance.
- Gutter Cleaning – Check your gutters and prepare to have them cleaned prior to the rainy season.
- Landscaping – It is important to trim bushes and branches away from the property structure and roofline.
- Irrigation – Check your irrigation system and adjust it to run fewer days per week before the rainy season. This will also help save money on your water bill.
- Drainage – It is important to evaluate your storm drains, as they may require cleaning by a plumber to snake the line annually. This helps prevent water backup during heavy rainfall.
- Sump Pump Maintenance – If your property has a sump pump, ensure it is serviced and inspected by a licensed plumber or contractor.
- Roof Inspection – Depending on the age of your roof, it’s always a good idea to have it evaluated by a professional roofing company to determine if any repairs or possible replacement are needed before the winter season arrives.
- Insurance – Check in with your insurance agent to review your property insurance and determine if you want to make any changes to your policy.
- Outdoor Furniture – Cover outdoor patio furniture to prevent it from becoming weathered.
During the onboarding process at Giuliani Property Management, we review routine maintenance for your property, such as gutter cleaning, chimney cleaning, sump pump maintenance, and landscaping, to ensure everything is in place to manage your property efficiently.
We aim to be proactive rather than reactive, keeping your tenants happy and your property protected. Please get in touch with us at Giuliani Property Management if you have any feedback or questions. We value your input!”